U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated employers and immigration practitioners regarding important dates to keep in mind regarding the upcoming H-1B registration for the upcoming H-1B lottery. This year, the online registration period for the H-1B lottery will begin on March 6 at 12:00 pm (EST) and run through March 22 at 12:00 pm (EST). Employers and their attorneys must wait until March 6 to enter beneficiary information and submit the registration fee. Below is a chart of important dates for your reference:

The H-1B registration requests the employer’s: (1) name, (2) primary address, (3) federal employer ID number (FEIN), and (4) authorized signatory’s contact information. It must also state the foreign national’s: (1) name, (2) gender, (3) date of birth, (4) country of birth and citizenship, (5) passport number, and (6) whether s/he has at least a master’s degree from a U.S. institution.

Moreover, starting with the FY 2025 initial registration period, USCIS will require registrants to provide valid passport information or valid travel document information. The passport or travel document provided must be the one the beneficiary, if or when abroad, intends to use to enter the United States if issued an H-1B visa. Each beneficiary must only be registered under one passport or travel document. 

If you have a candidate you would like entered into the 2025 H-1B lottery, please forward copies of the candidates biographic page of their passport, degree(s), and transcript(s). While the registration does not ask about the proposed job duties or work site location, our office will need this information in order to establish that the individual qualifies for an H-1B specialty occupation related to their degree.