On February 6, 2020, the USCIS conducted a webinar for employers planning to register their hopeful candidates for the H-1B lottery this year. USCIS showed screenshots of the employer registration process and responded to some questions from the public.
The registration window will open at noon, Eastern, on March 1 and close at noon, Eastern, on March 20, 2020. USCIS committed to notifying registering companies and their attorneys by March 31, 2020 of the results of the lottery and selection process. They also confirmed that the filing window for selected candidates will open on April 1, and remain open for 90 days. Each selected registration record will have a selection notice that will designate to which service center the petition for that candidate must be filed and the filing window.
Employers will be allowed to create ‘registrant’ accounts on my.uscis.gov beginning February 24, 2020.
The USCIS clarified some concerns raised during a question and answer period. For example, they confirmed that a change in passport number would not affect the validity of a registration, provided the candidate could demonstrate that the passport number used during the registration process belonged to them. In addition, they confirmed that a given candidate’s registration would not be deemed a duplicative registration if two employers submitted registrations for the same person. However, USCIS did reiterate that they would view it as duplicative and subject to denial and forfeiture of filing fees if both registrations were chosen in the lottery and both petitioners filed petitions for that candidate that turned out to be for the same ‘business necessity.’
Global Immigration Partners can manage the H-1B registration process for your company. Please call our office or reach us by email to get started.
For more information, please review the following: