The USCIS has announced that it plans to implement a system that would allow for H-1B visa seeking companies to “pre-register” for an H-1B before beginning the process of completing an H-1B visa application. The change is a significant step forward as the change is expected to save U.S. companies $23 million in the next ten years.
Each year, the USCIS makes 65,000 H-1B visas (and an additional 20,000 Masters Degree H-1b visas) available to companies who need to hire specialized occupation workers. However, each year these visas are insufficient and there are more companies seeking the visas than the number of available visas. Thus many companies incur costs only to learn afterward that they simply were too late in applying for a visa. It is important to note that only some H-1B seekers are subject to the cap.
Although this change is a significant improvement from the current system, it is not difficult to realize that the limitation on H-1Bs is simply unfortunate and is limiting America’s economic growth. Additionally, it is questionable that the United States needs to resort to a lottery to decide which companies get H-1B visas. If the United States really wanted to improve its economic position, it would either increase the number of H-1B visas allowed, or would give H-1B visas to the most beneficial companies and positions.
To learn more able the process, please contact a H-1B visa lawyer.