U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced at the end of January that the FY 2027 H‑1B cap registration period will run from March 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET to March 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The agency will require employers and representatives to register each beneficiary electronically through a USCIS online account…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (a division of the Office of Management and Budget) that would replace the current H-1B lottery system with a weighted selection process. This regulatory development may have significant implications for U.S. employers, foreign students, and current…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun notifying petitioners of selected registrations for this year’s H-1B cap lottery. This marks a pivotal step in the FY 2026 H-1B visa process, as registrants who have been selected are now eligible to proceed with filing their H-1B cap-subject petitions on April 1 (earliest date).

The H-1B…

The registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap petitions opened at noon ET March 6, 2024, and will continue to run through noon ET March 22, 2024. Employers seeking to file an H-1B cap-subject petition must electronically register during this period using a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online account. The…

On Jan. 30, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a final rule regarding the H-1B cap electronic registration process for fiscal year (FY) 2025. The announcement also included the initial registration period dates for the FY 2025 cap and the launch of an online filing option for H-1B petitioners. The new rule, effective…

Key Points: The new selections were taken from H-1B registrations submitted in March 2023. Employers with selected registrations are eligible to move ahead with filing H-1B petitions between Aug. 2, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2023.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the second round of H-1B cap lottery selections it previously…

To attract high-skilled foreign workers, Canada launched a special work permit program targeting H-1B visa holders in the United States, particularly nationals of India and China. The Tech Talent Strategy, introduced by Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Sean Fraser, aims to offer new opportunities for skilled professionals seeking career growth and stability. The program’s…

On April 28, 2023, USCIS released the highly anticipated numbers relating to this year’s H-1B cap registration held in March. Considering the low acceptance rate reported by most employers, it was expected that USCIS received many more registrations this year than last. However, it was not expected that USCIS would include within its announcement allegations…

Greenberg Traurig Immigration & Compliance Practice Shareholders Dillon R. Colucci and Agnes Cha Rudinsky will present a webinar on the recently-concluded H-1B visa cap season May 4 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

The H-1B visa petition cycle is a period for employers seeking to hire specialized foreign workers and other targeted immigrant labor. This…