Key Takeaways:
- USCIS completed a second round, selecting 14,534 additional FY 2025 H1B registrations, totaling 135,137 selections.
- The second selection round was needed as the first round didn’t meet the 65,000 visa cap.
- The new beneficiary-centric model aims to prevent duplicate registrations, entering each unique beneficiary only once.
How Many H1B Registrations Were Selected for FY 2025?
USCIS has successfully completed a second round of H1B registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2025. Out of the seismic pool of applications, an additional 14,534 registrations were selected. This escalation brings the grand total to 135,137 selections for the upcoming fiscal year.
Why Was There a Second Round of Selections?
USCIS devised a second round of selections because the initial batch of H1B petition filings did not suffice to meet the FY 2025 H1B cap of 65,000 visas. The first round took place in March 2024, yet failed to garner enough qualified petitions to hit the cap. Thus, the necessity for this second selection round arose.
What Were the Key Details of the Second Selection Round?
Here are the pivotal points concerning the second selection round:
– 14,534 new registrations were selected.
– These selections emerged from the pool of previously submitted eligible registrations.
– Both the regular cap and master’s cap eligible registrations were included.
– All registrants selected have been notified through their USCIS online accounts.
How Does the Beneficiary-Centric Model Affect Selections?
The 2025 fiscal year marked the advent of a new beneficiary-centric model. This framework strives to eliminate duplicate registrations while boosting fairness. According to this model, each unique beneficiary is entered into the selection pool only once, irrespective of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf.
How Many Total Registrations Were Submitted for FY 2025?
The total number of eligible registrations for FY 2025 hit a staggering 470,342, accounting for 442,000 unique beneficiaries. Initially, USCIS selected 120,603 registrations in March 2024. With the second round adding an extra 14,534 registrations, the total selection rate for FY 2025 now stands at roughly 28.7% of all submitted registrations.
What Should Beneficiaries Do If Selected in the Second Round?
Beneficiaries selected in this second round have a 90-day window to submit their H1B cap-subject petitions to USCIS. The precise filing dates will be specified in the selection notices provided to each selected registrant.
Is Selection a Guarantee for Visa Issuance?
Not necessarily. While an additional 14,534 registrations were selected, this does not ensure the issuance of 14,534 new H1B visas. Some selected registrations could remain unfiled, and some petitions might face denial or withdrawal. USCIS typically overselects to mitigate these factors and secure the numerical cap is effectively met.
Were There Additional Selections for the Master’s Cap?
No, USCIS confirmed that no further selections were necessary for the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap) of 20,000 visas. The initial selection in March sufficientlŷ met this quota.
Is a Second Round of Selection an Unusual Occurrence?
Second rounds of selection are not extraordinary. Recently, USCIS has commonly executed multiple selection rounds to ensure that all available H1B slots are occupied. For instance, during FY 2024, there were three rounds of selection.
What Happens If You’re Not Selected?
For employers and beneficiaries not selected in either the first or second round for FY 2025, you might consider exploring alternative visa options or awaiting potential future opportunities. Although there have been third rounds historically, this is not a guarantee and heavily depends on the number of petitions filed from the initial rounds.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The occurrence of this second selection round underscores the relentless demand for H1B visas and the competitive nature of the selection process. It also illuminates USCIS’s diligence in maximizing the utilization of the allocated visa numbers while preserving the integrity of the H1B program.
According to VisaVerge.com, “Employers and beneficiaries should remain vigilant and prepared for any further developments, and possibly consult with an immigration attorney to explore other opportunities.”
For further authoritative information, you can visit the official USCIS H1B page.
The landscape of H1B registrations continues to evolve, and staying informed can make a substantial difference in navigating these changes.
Learn Today:
Glossary of Immigration Terms
1. H1B Visa
A non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise, such as IT, engineering, and accounting.
2. Fiscal Year (FY)
A one-year period designated for accounting purposes, used by the government and organizations to plan and report budgets and financial performance. The U.S. government fiscal year starts on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year.
3. Cap
The maximum number of H1B visas that can be issued in a fiscal year, set at 65,000 visas for the regular cap and an additional 20,000 for the master’s cap, which is reserved for applicants with advanced U.S. degrees.
4. Beneficiary-Centric Model
A method used in the selection process for H1B visas, where each unique applicant (beneficiary) is entered into the selection pool only once, regardless of the number of applications submitted on their behalf, to prevent duplicate submissions and ensure fairness.
5. USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the government agency responsible for administering the country’s immigration and naturalization system, including the processing of H1B petitions and conducting selection rounds.
This Article In A Nutshell:
USCIS has concluded a second selection round for FY 2025 H1B registrations, adding 14,534 more selections, totaling 135,137. This extra round was necessary due to insufficient initial filings. With a new beneficiary-centric model, USCIS aims for fairness and transparency, enhancing the H1B selection process.
— By VisaVerge.com
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