Key Points

  • USCIS has announced key dates for the FY 2022 cap-subject H-1B selection process
  • The registration period will open on March 9, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST and close on March 25, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST
  • USCIS will notify of selected registrants by March 31, 2021
  • Full H-1B cap-subject petitions will be accepted starting on April 1, 2021
  • A $10 registration fee per beneficiary is required
  • USCIS will continue to use an electronic registration process for cap-subject H-1B petitions
  • USCIS will select cap-subject H-1B petitions using a random lottery selection process for FY 2022

Overview

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will open the registration period for FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petitions on March 9, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST. The registration period will close on March 25, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST.

What are the Changes?

USCIS has announced registration deadlines and notification timelines for FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petitions. Following the end of the H-1B registration period on March 25, 2021, USCIS will notify of selected registrants eligible to file a full petition. USCIS intends to notify selected registrants by March 31, 2021. The agency will start accepting full FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petitions on April 1, 2021.

USCIS published instructions on the USCIS website for electronic registration.

What Should Employers and Applicants Know?

USCIS will continue to use an electronic registration process for the FY 2022 H-1B selection process. The registration period will be March 9 (12 EST) to March 25 (12 EST). The agency introduced the electronic registration system in 2020 for the FY 2021 H-1B cap. Petitioners who wish to file an H-1B cap-subject petition must register the beneficiary electronically first. A $10 H-1B registration fee is required for the registration of every beneficiary. Full FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petitions can only be mailed to USCIS for beneficiaries who are registered and selected.

Looking Ahead

As announced yesterday, USCIS will continue to use a random lottery to select H-1B petitions for FY 2022. The transition to a wage-based selection process, which is now delayed through December 31, 2021, will not impact this year's H-1B cap selection.

Originally published 5 February, 2021

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