USCIS overhaul of H-1B process results in far fewer multiple registrations
Data from the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B registration process has recently been released by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The data show that changes intended to reduce the number of multiple registrations for the same individuals had the desired effect – the number of H-1B registrations was dramatically reduced.
Eligible H-1B registrations decreased by more than 38 percent – from 758,994 in Fiscal Year 2024 to 470,342 in FY25. Most of the decline was attributable to the drop in multiple registrations for the same individuals. In FY24, there were 408,891 multiple registrations, but only 47,314 in FY25.
The USCIS said that corrective measures it took reduced the number of multiple registrations. These included extensive criminal fraud investigations in Fiscal Year 2023 and FY24, and the implementation of a selection process that was based on actual beneficiaries rather than registrations. For example, under the new process, if 10 employers file registrations for the same person, the person has only one chance to be selected rather than 10 chances.
Additional information about the FY25 lottery
The USCIS selected 114,017 beneficiaries, resulting in 120,603 selected registrations in the initial H-1B lottery selection. There were more selections than beneficiaries because some of the selected beneficiaries had multiple registrations.
There were approximately 442,000 unique beneficiaries for FY25, which was comparable to the number for FY24 (approximately 446,000).
There were approximately 52,700 unique employers for FY25, comparable to the number for FY24, which was approximately 52,000.
Overall, there was an average of 1.06 registrations per beneficiary in FY25, compared with 1.70 for FY24.
The following chart shows registration and selection numbers for fiscal years 2021-2025 as of April 12, 2024 (the chart and the italicized comments are from the USCIS):
|
Cap Fiscal Year |
Total Registrations |
Eligible Registrations* |
Eligible Registrations for Beneficiaries with No Other Eligible Registrations |
Eligible Registrations for Beneficiaries with Multiple Eligible Registrations |
Selected Registrations |
|
2021 |
274,237 |
269,424 |
241,299 |
28,125 |
124,415 |
|
2022 |
308,613 |
301,447 |
211,304 |
90,143 |
131,924 |
|
2023 |
483,927 |
474,421 |
309,241 |
165,180 |
127,600 |
|
2024 |
780,884 |
758,994 |
350,103 |
408,891 |
188,400** |
|
2025 |
479,953 |
470,342 |
423,028 |
47,314 |
120,603*** |
*The count of eligible registrations excludes duplicate registrations, those deleted by the prospective employer prior to the close of the registration period, and those with failed payments.
**The number of initial selections for FY 2024 – 110, 791 – was smaller in than in prior years primarily due to (a) establishing a higher anticipated petition filing rate by selected registrants based on prior years; and (b) higher projected Department of State approvals of H-1B1 visas, which count against the H-1B cap.
***The number of initial selections for FY 2025 – 120,603 – was smaller than in prior years primarily due to establishing a higher anticipated petition filing rate based on the beneficiary-centric selection process (i.e. selection by unique beneficiary). USCIS selected the number of unique beneficiaries projected as needed to reach the congressionally mandated caps and exemptions. All properly submitted registrations for those beneficiaries that were selected were set to a selected status. Accordingly, the number of selected registrations was higher than the number of selected beneficiaries and this number is not completely comparable to prior years that used a direct registration selection method.
Additional FY 2025 H-1B lottery selections
As indicated above, 120,603 registrations were selected in FY25, including selections for beneficiaries with multiple registrations (these selections come from the 47,314 registrations referenced in the above chart). The beneficiaries with multiple registrations will be required to decide which employer is to be their petition sponsor. No decision about a supplemental lottery will occur until the USCIS determines how many of the 85,000 available slots are taken by petitions that are filed by the deadline of June 30, 2024.
Constangy’s Immigration Practice Group will keep you posted as to any further developments.
