New Delhi: The registration process for the H-1B visa program has officially started. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) opened the online registration portal on Thursday, allowing employers to submit applications for the upcoming fiscal year.

According to the announcement, the registration window will remain open until March 19. This is the first registration cycle being conducted after the implementation of the updated H-1B visa regulations.

Under the revised framework, several changes have been introduced to the selection process. One major update involves the lottery system, where higher-paid professionals will receive greater priority during selection. The change is expected to benefit companies hiring highly skilled specialists for senior-level roles in the United States.

Experts believe the new system could create challenges for consulting firms that traditionally rely on large numbers of H-1B applications. However, it may provide advantages to organizations recruiting experienced professionals with specialized expertise.

Employers must pay a registration fee of $215 for each applicant submitted through the system.

Demand for H-1B visas remains extremely high every year. The US government issues a total of 85,000 H-1B visas annually, including 20,000 visas reserved for applicants who have completed advanced degrees from universities in the United States.

The H-1B visa program continues to play a major role in enabling US companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals, particularly in fields such as technology, engineering, and research.