Step by Step Guide

To ensure a smooth H-1B electronic registration process, avoid these common errors:

• Incorrect Account Type:

  • Use an Organizational account (formerly registrant account) for H-1B registrations, even with legal representation.
  • Applicant/petitioner/requestor accounts are not for H-1B registrations.
  • Attorney/representative accounts are for legal representatives filing on behalf of petitioners.

• Duplicate Beneficiary Entries:

  • Only one registration per beneficiary per fiscal year is allowed per petitioner.
  • Duplicate entries by the same petitioner will invalidate all registrations for that beneficiary by that petitioner.
  • A duplicate checker is available within the electronic registration process to check for previously submitted duplicates within the current period.
  • A .csv file download tool is provided to further search for duplicates.
  • Coordination among attorneys and authorized personnel within the same company is crucial to prevent duplicates.
  • If duplicates are found before the March 24, 2025, noon Eastern deadline, delete the extra registrations. No refunds will be issued for deleted registrations.
  • If duplicates are found after the deadline, all registrations for that beneficiary by that petitioner will be removed from the selection process, with no refunds.

Gaining an Unfair Selection Advantage

Upon submitting your H-1B registration(s), you are required to attest, under penalty of perjury, that all provided information is complete, accurate, and truthful. This attestation confirms that the registration(s) represent a genuine job offer and that you, or the organization you represent, have not collaborated with any other party to submit multiple registrations for the same beneficiary in an attempt to unfairly increase their selection odds.

If it is determined that this attestation is false, such as evidence of a company working with another entity to submit duplicate registrations for a beneficiary, the corresponding petition will be denied or revoked. This action will be taken in accordance with 8 CFR 214.2(h)(10)(ii) and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(11)(iii)(A)(2). Additionally, the individual or entity responsible for submitting the false attestation may be referred to relevant federal law enforcement agencies for investigation and further action.

Fees Requirement

The registration fee for the FY 2026 H-1B cap is $215 per beneficiary. Consult the Fee Schedule, Form G-1055, for more details.

Each registration covers a single beneficiary. To be eligible to register a beneficiary for the H-1B cap, registrants or their representatives must pay the non-refundable H-1B registration fee.

For online H-1B registrations and petitions during the FY 2026 cap season, the U.S. Treasury has increased the daily credit card transaction limit to $99,999.99 per credit card, up from $24,999.99. This adjustment addresses stakeholder feedback and the high volume of previous registrations exceeding the former limit.

For mailed petitions, the daily credit card transaction limit remains $24,999.99. Alternatively, you can use a U.S.-based checking account for payments, providing the routing and account numbers.

Notifications for Selected Registrations

USCIS will notify registrants and their representatives of selected registrations through their USCIS online accounts.

The online accounts will display a registration status for each registered beneficiary. The possible statuses are:

• Submitted: Registration is eligible for selection. If the initial selection is complete, it remains eligible for subsequent selections, unless invalidated.
• Selected: Registration was chosen for H-1B cap petition filing.
• Not Selected: Registration is ineligible for H-1B cap petition filing.
• Denied: Registration is invalid due to incorrect passport/travel document information or duplicate submissions by the same registrant for the same beneficiary.
• Invalidated – failed payment: Registration payment was declined or invalid.
• Deleted: Registration was deleted and is ineligible for selection.
• Processing submission: USCIS is processing the submission. Case details may take up to 72 hours to appear. Drafts are inaccessible during processing.

To file an H-1B cap-subject petition, including for advanced degree exemptions, a “Selected” registration notification for that fiscal year is required. Registrations not selected, denied, or invalidated will remain “Submitted.” Unselected registrants will only be notified after USCIS confirms the H-1B cap has been reached.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Any changes to the FY 2026 registration form?

  • A: The form remains similar. You’ll need basic petitioner/beneficiary details, including valid passport/travel document information, which must match the document used for U.S. entry. The document must be valid at registration time. If it expires before petition filing, provide both old and new document details on Form I-129. For rare cases like Venezuelan nationals with extended-validity passports, follow specific guidelines.

• Q: Appeal process for invalidated duplicate registrations?

  • A: No. Duplicate registrations are invalidated without appeal.

• Q: If selected under the master’s cap, but the beneficiary lacks the required degree at H-1B petition filing, will USCIS deny the petition?

  • A: Eligibility for the advanced degree exemption, as per INA 214(g)(5)(C), necessitates that the beneficiary holds the qualifying master’s or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education at the point of Form I-129 petition filing. Failure to meet this requirement will result in petition denial or rejection.

• Q: What if the employer’s registration address differs from the I-129 address?

  • A: In cases where the petitioner’s address has changed, a statement accompanied by supporting documentation detailing the reason for the discrepancy is required. If the petitioning entity cannot be verified as the same as the prospective petitioner on the registration, the petition may be subject to rejection or denial.

• Q: What start date is required for petitioners to specify on Form I-129 following a successful H-1B registration selection?

  • A: Following a successful registration selection, petitioners are required to indicate a start date on Form I-129 that is October 1st or later of the applicable fiscal year and within a six-month window from the petition’s receipt date. Non-compliance with this requirement will lead to petition rejection or denial.

• Q: Does a typo on the registration affect I-129 petition approval?

  • A: While typographical errors between the registration and Form I-129 do not automatically result in petition rejection, the petitioner bears the responsibility of verifying the accuracy of all information and demonstrating that the H-129 petition is based on a valid, USCIS-selected registration for the named beneficiary.

• Q: How does the H-1B registration system or beneficiary-centric selection impact USCIS’s policy on multiple petitions for one beneficiary from related entities?

  • A: USCIS’s policy against multiple H-1B petitions for the same beneficiary by related employers remains the same, as outlined in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(2)(i)(G) and Matter of S- Inc.

• Q: What is the correct filing location for the I-129 and supporting materials for selected H-1B registrations?

  • A: Selected registrants can file I-129 and I-907 online. Paper filing is also an option, but paper forms cannot be linked to online accounts. For paper filing, check your selection notice for the correct address, which may differ from past years. See our ‘Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129‘ webpage.

• Q: What is the procedure if a legal representative who submitted an H-1B registration terminates their representation of the registrant?

  • A: Registrants and representatives must ensure continued access to submissions. If the registrant ends the relationship, they keep access to registration data. New representatives cannot be added to previously submitted registrations.

• Q: Does the H-1B registration system have a feature that prevents the representative and the registrant from independently submitting registrations for the same beneficiary?

  • A: The system doesn’t block duplicate beneficiary entries. However, a duplicate checker helps identify prior submissions within the fiscal year. Users are still responsible for preventing duplicates, and a .csv tool and internal communication are advised.

• Q: Finding online account number for Form G-28?

  • A: If you don’t know your account number, click “No” and proceed.

• Q: Do both attorney and client need accounts?

  • A: Yes. Clients need organizational accounts. Attorneys use their existing representative accounts.

• Q: Does a duplicate registration impact the entire batch, or only the specific duplicate entry?

  • A: Only the duplicate is invalidated. Others remain valid. Delete duplicates before the registration period ends.

• Q: What is the earliest registration drafting date?

  • A: March 7, 2025, at noon Eastern.

• Q: Is it possible for several individuals within my company to access the USCIS account concurrently?

  • A: No, simultaneous logins are prohibited. Account sharing violates the Terms of Use. However, organizational accounts facilitate collaboration among staff and legal representatives for H-1B registrations and petitions.

• Q: How does a registrant notify USCIS they won’t file after their registration is selected?

  • A: Because no H-1B petition will be filed, there’s no official file to link to a notification. It is recommended that the employers keep records explaining why they aren’t filing, in case of inquiries.

• Q: How do I proceed if my delivery service reports issues with my H-1B package, like delays or damage?

  • A: For delivery issues with a timely H-1B petition, file a second petition with a new fee within 90 days. Provide an explanation, delivery proof, and a withdrawal request. Without these, it’s considered a duplicate, risking denial/revocation and no refund. If done right, the first petition is withdrawn, and the second is processed.

• Q: If my payment doesn’t process for my registration, what happens to my submission?

  • A: Payment failure on Pay.gov means your registration won’t go through. Your data is saved for 30 days, allowing you to retry before the deadline. Only successful submissions with payment are considered for selection.

• Q: What happens if my registration payment initially clears, but later fails, such as with a returned electronic check?

  • A: Valid payment is your responsibility. Check payments require accurate bank details. ‘Submitted’ status doesn’t mean payment cleared. Incorrect details lead to invalidation. Credit/debit payments must process fully. Later failures invalidate registrations. You are responsible for payment status, even if we attempt notification. Resubmit with valid payment if invalid during the period; no resubmission after. Failed payments risk petition denial/revocation. The registration fee is non-refundable.

• Q: Which time zone is used for online H-1B registrations and I-129 filings?

  • A: All online H-1B registrations and I-129 petitions are timestamped using UTC. I-129 receipt dates are UTC-based, not local. File late in the day, and your receipt date might be later than you expect. Submit on time to avoid eligibility issues.

• Q: If I marked a beneficiary ineligible for the master’s cap, but the selection notice shows they were selected under it, is this a mistake?

  • A: First, double-check your registration for the beneficiary’s master’s cap eligibility. Even if you marked them ineligible, they might have been correctly selected under the master’s cap if another registration for them indicated eligibility. Due to the beneficiary-centric selection, if they’re selected, all registrations reflect it. The general cap selection happens before the master’s cap. Thus, master’s cap selections weren’t in the general cap. You can still file a petition, but must prove master’s cap eligibility at I-129 filing.

We are Here

The complexities of H-1B registration and petition processes can be challenging. For comprehensive support and expert guidance through every step, from account setup to petition filing, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to ensure a smooth and accurate experience, maximizing your chances of success.