H1B Visa Registration, Applicatin Process, Timeline, Cost & Status Check, H1B Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens | How to Apply Online for H1B Visa 2024, Deadline, Requirement, Latest News | H1B Visa Processing Time
If you’re looking to work professionally in the US, the H1B Visa is highly sought after. However, there is a limited quota of 85,000 authorized visas for the previous H1B FY 2023 season, yet a staggering 484,000 registrations were received. Therefore, it’s important to stay informed and prepare in advance if you want to increase your chances of obtaining the visa. This post covers all the essential details for the upcoming H-1B 2024 season, such as the schedule, lottery process, registration window, costs, and FAQs. The post will be updated with any new information that becomes available.
H1B Visa 2024 Introduction
The H1B Visa category was created by Congress to enable US companies to recruit highly qualified individuals in the country. Anyone with the requisite skills and a minimum of a bachelor’s degree can apply for an H1B visa for employment in the US.
However, the US Congress has established an annual limit of 85,000 new H1B visas to be issued. These fresh H1B visas are referred to as cap-subject H1B visas. Since the demand for H1B visas is extremely high, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employs a random selection process called the H1B lottery to select eligible applicants who meet the annual quota.
USCIS H1B Visa Fiscal Year 2024 Season
New H1B visas are issued based on the USCIS Fiscal Year (FY), which differs from the calendar year because it doesn’t run from January through December. The USCIS Fiscal Year 2024 starts on October 1, 2023, and ends on September 30, 2024.
Around six months before the beginning of the upcoming fiscal year, USCIS begins accepting H1B petitions for the following year. In this case, USCIS will begin accepting petitions for the year 2024 in April 1st, 2023, six months before the start of the fiscal year. Consequently, the overall process for FY 2024 is presented in the timetable below, with petitions being accepted starting on April 1st, 2023, for the FY 2024 season.
The H1B FY 2024 season encompasses the entire period from the start of submitting registrations to working in the US on an H1B visa for employers seeking to hire H1B workers to work in the US beginning on October 1st, 2024. In other words, employers who plan to hire H1B workers for the next fiscal year are considered part of the H1B FY 2024 season, which covers the entire process from registration submission to the worker’s arrival and employment in the US.
New Timeline of H1B Visa 2024
USCIS has released the dates for the H1B registration and lottery process on January 27, 2023. The timeline for the H1B registration and lottery process is now available based on the official USCIS dates provided. The timeline outlines the exact dates for each step of the process, including the registration period, the lottery selection process, and the notification period. By following the official USCIS timeline, employers and applicants can stay informed about the H1B registration and lottery process and be prepared for each step along the way.
| H1B 2024 Process | Dates | Activities during this period |
| H1B Registrants Account | Start from Feb 21st, 2023 | Employers or H1B Sponsors create their H1B Registrant accounts. They need to use the registrant accounts to submit H1B registrations. |
| Start Date to submit H1B Registrations | March 1st, 2023 | Starting date for Employers login to the USCIS H1B Registration system and submit registrations for applicants that intend to hire on H1B Visa |
| End Date to submit H1B Registrations | March 17th, 2023 | Last date for Employers to submit H1B registrations. |
| H1B Registration Lottery Selection, Results | March 18th, 2023 to March 31st, 2023 | USCIS conducts random selection, aka H1B lottery, and informs results during these days. |
| H1B Petition Filing Dates | April 1st, 2023 to June 30th, 2023 | Employers can file H1B petitions for selected applicants in the H1B Lottery during this period. An employer needs to prepare a full petition with LCA and all applicant’s details and send the package to USCIS |
| H1B Petition Processing by USCIS, Decisions | April 1st, 2023 onwards | USCIS processes the H1B petition filed by the employer from April 1st onwards and it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. |
| H1B Visa Stamping at US Consulates | July 1st, 2023 onwards | If you are an applicant outside of the US, you need to get an H1B Visa Stamp in the passport to enter the US on H1B Visa. You apply for it at a US Consulate/Embassy. |
| Start Working on H1B Visa | October 1st, 2023 onwards | USCIS fiscal year 2024 starts from Oct 1st, 2023 and this is when the cap-subject applicants can start working. If your petition was approved and you got the visa, you can enter the US and work from Oct 1st, 2023. If you are already in the US, your status will change to H1B from this date |
Masters vs. Regular Cap: H1B Visa Quota For FY 2024
The H1B visa has two categories: the ordinary quota and the master’s quota. The US Congress has put a cap of 85,000 on the number of H1B visas that can be issued each year. This cap is commonly referred to as the “H1B quota cap.” The annual quota caps for both categories apply to the H1B fiscal year 2024 and are currently as follows. The ordinary quota is capped at 65,000, while the master’s quota is capped at 20,000. These caps mean that no more than 65,000 visas may be issued to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and no more than 20,000 visas may be issued to applicants who hold a master’s degree or higher. It is important to note that not all H1B visa applications are subject to the quota cap, as some applicants are exempt from it.
The H1B visa program has two categories –
- the regular quota and the master’s quota – with an annual cap of 85,000 visas set by the US Congress.
- The regular quota allows for 65,000 visas, while the master’s quota allows for 20,000 visas, but only for applicants who have completed a master’s degree in the US.
However, there are about 6,800 visas reserved for residents of Chile and Singapore as part of their Free Trade Agreement with the US, known as H1B1-classified visas. While this technically lowers the overall count of available H1B visas, in practice, the number used by Chile and Singapore is usually quite small.
Online Registration for an H-1B Visa
If you want to submit a registration application for H1B visa, you need to create a myUSCIS account first. The website address to create the account is https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/signup. However, note that there is a non-refundable fee of $10 that you need to pay while creating the account. Once you have created the account, you can log in and submit your registration application. If you are submitting your own registration, you must use a registered account to log in.
Lottery Predictions of H1B Visa for the Season of FY 2024
It is expected that the H1B Lottery for the fiscal year 2024 will be similar to the previous year’s situation. The demand for H1B visas has been increasing continuously, and therefore, it is anticipated that there may be more registrations for the FY 2024 season than the previous year. Those who want to learn more about this can refer to the detailed analysis on this topic available at H1B Visa 2024 Lottery Predictions.
Latest News Updates of H1B Visa for the Season of FY 2024
There are no current updates from USCIS, implying that the processes and schedules are proceeding as planned. This may mean that there are no delays or changes in the H1B process for the time being. However, it is essential to keep up to date with any developments, as USCIS may make changes to the process or schedule as the year progresses. It is crucial to stay informed and be prepared for any updates that may affect H1B applicants, sponsors, or beneficiaries. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly check the USCIS website and other reliable sources for any news or announcements.