EIG Alert: USCIS Announced Upcoming Second Random Selection for FY2025 H-1B Cap Registrations

Earlier today, Tuesday, July 30, USCIS announced it would conduct a second random selection for regular cap from the previously submitted FY 2025 H-1B cap registrations.

In March, USCIS conducted an initial random selection on properly submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year 2025 H-1B cap, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2025 are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions during the filing period on their registration selection notice. The initial filing period for those with selected registrations for FY 2025 was from April 1 through June 30, 2024.

USCIS has determined that it would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the FY 2025 regular cap numerical allocation.

What’s next: While USCIS has not indicated how many registrants will be selected in this second round or when the selection process will be initiated, we can expect the following:

  • USCIS will select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries from previously submitted electronic registrations using a random selection process.

  • USCIS will notify prospective petitioners with selected registrations from this second round of selection that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration.

  • USCIS will announce when they have completed this second process of selections and notifications.

Key Notes: USCIS will not be conducting a second selection for the advanced degree exemption (the master’s cap), as enough master’s cap registrations were already selected and sufficient petitions were received based on those registrations as projected to meet the FY 2025 masters cap numerical allocation. The second round of selection for the regular cap will include previously submitted registrations that indicated eligibility for the master’s cap along with those that indicated only eligibility for the regular cap.

Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.