USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Registration Fee

On November 7, 2019, the USCIS published a final rule that will require a $10 non-refundable fee for each H-1B registration submitted by petitioning employers in the H-1B electronic pre-registration process for the cap lottery. The final rule will become effective on December 9, 2019.

USCIS stated in its recent announcement that it anticipates implementation of the H-1B electronic registration system for next year’s H-1B cap season in April 2020, pending completed testing of the system. The agency will announce the implementation timeframe and initial registration period in the Federal Register once a formal decision has been made, and USCIS will offer ample notice to the public in advance of implementing the registration requirement. Upon implementation of the electronic registration system, petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, will first have to electronically register with USCIS during a designated registration period, unless the requirement is suspended.