Starting September 2, 2025, all H-1B visa applicants in India must attend in-person interviews at a U.S. consulate, ending the dropbox option.

The H-1B process remains employer-driven, with the employer filing the petition and the employee maintaining status by staying employed in the approved job under the approved terms.

Employers increased the risk of H-1B workers going out of status by rapidly withdrawing petitions after layoffs, complicating their future re-entry into the U.S.

USCIS has introduced beneficiary-focused selection and mandatory passport information for lottery registrations to tackle registration abuse.

The USCIS adopted a 'beneficiary-centric' registration process, resulting in fewer registrations but relatively steady numbers of employers and unique foreign candidates applying for visas.