H-1B visa registrations for 2023 to start from March 1

The registrations for the most-sought after H-1B visa would start on March 1 and remain open till March 18_ 2022. During this period_ the petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using the online H-1B registration system_ the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a press release.

"USCIS will assign a confirmation number to each registration submitted for the FY 2023 H-1B cap. This number is used solely to track registrations; you cannot use this number to track your case status in Case Status Online_" it said.

"Prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives are required to use a myUSCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each beneficiary. Prospective petitioners submitting their own registrations (U.S. employers and U.S. agents_ collectively known as "registrants") will use a "registrant" account. Registrants will be able to create new accounts beginning at noon Eastern on Feb. 21_" the statement added.

"Representatives may add clients to their accounts at any time_ but both representatives and registrants must wait until March 1 to enter beneficiary information and submit the registration with the $10 fee. Prospective petitioners or their representatives will be able to submit registrations for multiple beneficiaries in a single online session. Through the account_ they will be able to prepare_ edit_ and store draft registrations prior to final payment and submission of each registration_" the release said.

Prospective petitioners will be selected "randomly if we receive enough registrations" by March 18_ and selection notifications via users' myUSCIS online accounts will be sent to account holders by March 31_ it said.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Every year_ the US issues 65_000 new H-1B visas_ with another 20_000 reserved for US Masters' degree holders.