USCIS Announces FY 2025 H-1B Cap Season Closures, Filing Location Changes, and New Fees

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The initial registration period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap closed on March 25, 2024, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) preparing to randomly select registrations to meet the numerical allocations. Notably, from April 1, 2024, USCIS mandates that all H-1B and H-1B1 Form I-129 petitions be filed at designated USCIS lockbox locations, moving away from service centers. This directive accompanies the implementation of adjusted filing fees effective the same date, as outlined in a final rule published on January 31, 2024. The revised fee structure necessitates the use of a new Form I-129 edition, with no grace period for the old version. USCIS underscores the criticality of the postmark date for determining the appropriate form version and fee amount. Furthermore, the introduction of online filing options and organizational accounts aims to streamline the H-1B filing process. USCIS discontinues the acceptance of prepaid mailers for sending communications or notices related to H-1B or H-1B1 petitions, moving towards an automated system for mailing approval notices and leveraging digital notifications for online account holders.

USCIS link: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/h-1b-form-i-129-filing-location-change-and-fy-2025-h-1b-cap-season-updates-and-reminders