The H-1B visa updates for international graduates have been mostly positive so far this year. President Joe Biden allowed the Trump administration’s ban on the visa to expire in March, giving graduates hoping to work in the United States optimism.
In the United States, high-skilled immigrants with the H-1B visa work in specialized fields, notably in technology. Perhaps graduates of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program apply for the H-1B visa in order to stay in the United States and continue working. Now since international talent immigration is becoming easier, there are a few important H-1B visa updates to be aware of.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently confirmed that it will hold a second lottery for H-1B visa applicants who did not make the first cut. The lottery was held in June, but it did not meet the quota set by the US Congress. Now, if petitions are submitted by Nov. 3, 2021, a fraction of the remaining candidates may be considered for a spot. The USCIS said in a declaration that it used “historical data related to approvals, denials, revocations, and other relevant factors” to ascertain how many H-1B visas would be approved each year.
A total of 65,000 visas are available each year, but the first 20,000 petitions for master’s degree holders (or higher) are exempt. “The petition filing period will begin on August 2 and end on November 3 based on registrations selected on July 28. Individuals with chosen registrations will receive a selection notification in their myUSCIS accounts, which will include information on when and where to file, according to the agency. To be clear, this does not mean that USCIS will endorse new applications; instead, existing applicants will be reconsidered.
Applicants must submit a printed copy of the registration selection notice along with the FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petition to file an H-1B visa petition. It is mandatory to submit a paper document as online filing is unavailable.
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