Washington:
US President Joe Biden is pushing to improve the H-1B visa process, the green card backlog and other issues related to the country's legal immigration system, the White House said.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
“As we look at the H-1B visa process, we have taken action to improve that process and the backlog for lawful permanent residents (green card) who are eligible to become U.S. citizens,” the White press secretary said House. Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily press conference on Wednesday. She was responding to questions about the feeling among a section of Indian Americans that the President is not making as much effort to address the plight of legal immigrants as he is doing for illegal immigrants.
Biden leaves for the southern border with Mexico in Texas on Thursday.
“For example, last month, as part of our efforts to strengthen the integrity of our immigration system and reduce the potential for fraud, DHS published a final rule regarding the H-1B visa,” Jean-Pierre said.
“So the changes promote fairer and more equitable outcomes and so we will continue our work to improve the system within our authorities and that has certainly been a priority,” she said, adding that the government is taking that “very seriously”. continues to do everything it can to improve the visa procedure.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the launch of myUSCIS organizational accounts that allow multiple people within an organization, as well as their legal representatives, to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations, H-1B petitions, and all associated Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service.
A new organizational account will be required to participate in the H-1B electronic registration process beginning in March 2024, the USCIS said. “We are working diligently to address any technical issues that may arise for legal representatives whose accounts were migrated when they logged into their online account on or after February 14, 2024, including the impact on matters other than H-1B filings ,” the report said.
The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap opens on March 6 at noon Eastern and runs through March 22 at noon Eastern.
During this period, potential filers and their representatives, if applicable, must use an online USCIS account to electronically register each beneficiary for the selection process and pay the associated registration fees for each beneficiary, the media alert said. Beginning with the FY 2025 initial registration period, USCIS will require registrants to provide valid passport information or valid travel document information for each beneficiary.
The passport or travel document provided must be the passport or travel document that the beneficiary, if or when abroad, intends to use to enter the U.S. if granted an H-1B visa. Each beneficiary may be registered under only one passport or travel document.
“In March, we will launch online filing of Form I-129 and associated Form I-907 for non-cap H-1B petitions. On April 1, USCIS will begin accepting online filing for H-1B cap petitions and associated forms I-907 for filers whose registrations are selected,” the federal agency said.
To help organizations and legal representatives navigate the new process, the USCIS launched the Tech Talks sessions in February 2024. During these sessions, individuals can ask questions about organizational accounts and online filing of Form I-129 for H-1B petitions.
The USCIS encourages all individuals involved in the H-1B registration and petition filing process to attend these sessions. Additional information and dates are available on the Upcoming National Engagements page, the report said.
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