The USCIS has made a major change in the application modality for H-1B visas, which are used to admit professional immigrants from specialized fields into the country. The announcement, Infobae points out, emphasizes “the introduction of an organizational accounting system that aims to simplify the process and make it more effective.”

The H-1B non-immigrant visa program, the U.S. agency recalls, allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire professional foreign workers in specialized jobs, which are defined by law as occupations that require highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.

This system of organizational accounts “will enable different members of the same entity to work together in completing and reviewing Forms I-129, for the petition of nonimmigrant workers, and I-907 for priority applications.”

The changes are important for companies and their representatives.

This restructuring announcement “is of great importance for companies and their legal representatives to jointly manage visa applications.” This new approach, Infobae emphasizes, is a response to the need to streamline work permits.

“USCIS is always looking for ways to improve and streamline our processes and this is a major step forward,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou.

The measures are expected to increase efficiency and facilitate cooperation between organizations and their legal representatives.

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Adjustment in the life cycle of the H-1B visa

USCIS emphasizes that comprehensive electronic processing, from registration to issuance of the final decision, will significantly improve the efficiency of the process.

“The entire procedure, including the assessment and communication of the results to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be managed virtually, which is a significant change compared to the paper format previously used,” Infobae reported on January 21, 2024.

“Once we launch organizational accounts and file I-129 H-1B petitions online, the entire H-1B lifecycle will become fully electronic, from registration, if applicable, to our final decision and transmission to the Department of State Affairs.”

USCIS expects to launch organizational accounts in February 2024, with Forms I-129 and I-907 filing online shortly thereafter. In addition to streamlining the Form I-129 H-1B petition process, these changes should help reduce duplicate H-1B filings and other common errors. They also report that “the changes will even have a physical component, moving the point of receipt of the paper forms of Forms I-129 and I-907 from the service centers to the USCIS vault.”

By doing so, they aim to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs associated with managing these requests.

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Information sessions

USCIS said it will host two national organizational account liaisons on Tuesday, January 23, and Wednesday, January 24, as well as several shorter sessions leading up to the H-1B registration period to help organizations and legal representatives navigate the process.

During these sessions, individuals will have the opportunity to ask questions about organizational accounts in preparation for the FY 2025 H-1B electronic filing process and the launch of Form I-129 online filing for H-1B petitions.

The US agency urged all people involved in the process of registering and filing H-1B petitions to visit these links.

(JO)