Home Big Biz Why United States Hiked Registration Fee For H-1B Visa

Why United States Hiked Registration Fee For H-1B Visa

The registration fee is part of an agency-wide effort to modernize and more efficiently process applications to live or work in the United States, says USCIS.

Why United States Hiked Registration Fee For H-1B Visa
Why United States Hiked Registration Fee For H-1B Visa

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on 7th November announced a final rule that will require a $10 non-refundable fee for each H-1B registration submitted by petitioning employers, once it implements the electronic registration system.

What Made USCIS Hike H-1B Visa Fee?

The USCIS said in a statement that the registration fee is part of an agency-wide effort to modernize and more efficiently process applications to live or work in the United States.

Upon implementation of the electronic registration system, petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, will first have to electronically register with USCIS during a designated registration period, unless the requirement is suspended, it said.

“This effort will help implement a more efficient and effective H-1B cap selection process,” said USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli.

The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.