US says your H-1B visa application will be rejected if you don't follow these new rules

The United States closed the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap season on March 25, 2024, at noon Eastern Time, after a three-day extension.

"USCIS will soon randomly select enough unique beneficiaries of properly submitted registrations projected as needed to reach the FY 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap), and will notify all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for such beneficiaries," the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement.

H-1B Form I-129 filing location change

Effective April 1, 2024, USCIS has revised the filing location for H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions. All paper-based submissions must now be directed to USCIS lockbox locations instead of service centers. This includes cap, non-cap, and cap-exempt H-1B filings. Specific mailing addresses for H-1B cap cases are available on the Form I-129 Direct Filing Addresses page.

"We will reject H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions received at a USCIS service center on or after April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period provided," the USCIS warned.

New H-1B fees kicks in
USCIS has also implemented new fees and a revised edition of Form I-129, effective April 1, 2024. Petitions postmarked on or after this date must include the updated fees and use the new edition of Form I-129. USCIS will utilize the postmark date to determine the correct form version and fees.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form I-129.

• USCIS will accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked before April 1, 2024;
• USCIS will not accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked on or after April 1, 2024; and
• USCIS will only accept the 04/01/24 edition of this form if it is postmarked on or after April 1, 2024.

"As a reminder, we recently announced a final premium processing fee rule that increased the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, to adjust for inflation, effective Feb. 26, 2024," the USCIS added in its statement, warning that a Form I-907 postmarked on or after Feb. 26, 2024, with the incorrect filing fee, will be rejected and the filing fee returned.

For filings sent by commercial courier (such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL), the postmark date is the date on the courier receipt.

Organisational accounts
USCIS recently introduced online organizational accounts, facilitating collaboration among individuals and legal representatives for H-1B registrations, petitions, and associated filings. Online filing for non-cap H-1B petitions commenced on March 25, with cap petitions and associated filings set to begin on April 1 for selected registrants.

Petitioners will continue to have the option of filing a paper Form I-129 H-1B petition and any associated Form I-907 if they prefer. However, during the initial launch of organizational accounts, users will not be able to link paper-filed Forms I-129 and I-907 to their online accounts.

No more prepaid mailers
USCIS has stopped the use of prepaid mailers for H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) filings as of March 25. Communication and final notices will be sent electronically, with automated printing and mailing of H-1B petition approval notices via first-class mail. MyUSCIS account holders will receive email or text notifications for case status changes, followed by paper notices by mail.