H-1B visa registration to begin on March 9, say US federal agency

The
US will start the registration process for the H-1B visa application for the
next fiscal year on March 9, reported PTI quoting federal agency.

“The initial registration period for the fiscal year 2022 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 9 and run through noon March 25,” said US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The
name of the accepted applicants will be shortlisted through a computerised draw
and announced by March 31.

The notification
issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) came at the
backdrop of President Joe Biden’s administrative announcement of continuing  with the traditional lottery system to issue
the work visa to foreign professionals.

The registration period allows the prospective petitioners and representatives to fill petitioner and beneficiary information and submit their
registrations, the USCIS said.

The
agency also said that if it receives enough registrations by March 25, it will randomly
select registrations and send selection notifications by March 31, thereby facilitating the applicants to join their new jobs in the US on October
1, when the American fiscal year starts.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialised occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

This visa is predominantly used by the tech companies that depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.  

As per US Congress’ mandated guideline, USCIS is allowed to issue a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas per year. It can also issue another 20,000 H-1B visas to foreign students who have
completed higher studies from a US university in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Former president Donald Trump’s administration revoked the rules that provided work permits to spouses of H-1B visa holders after he came to power but the Trump-led Republican administer could not complete the process in the four years of its rule.