The visa fee is non-refundable in nature. The reason for fee hike is that it will support the new electronic registration system.
Importantly, it will make the H-1B cap selection process more efficient. This will ease the process both for petitioners and the federal agency.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday mentioned that as a part of their revised selection process, the United States of America has announced the increase of H-1B work visa application fee by $10.
Moreover, it is a non-refundable fee which aims to support the new electronic registration system which will make the H-1B cap selection process more efficient for both petitioners and the federal agency.
USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli mentioned that “this effort will help implement a more efficient and effective H-1B cap selection process.”
Furthermore, “the electronic registration system is part of an agency-wide initiative to modernize our immigration system.” This will “deterring fraud, improving vetting procedures and strengthening program integrity,”
H-1B visa is mutually beneficial both for the US companies and the foreign nationals. The visa allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers. Foreign national who have highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent usually apply for H-1B visa.
The USCIS said that upon implementation of the electronic registration system, petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Firstly, they have to electronically register with the USCIS during a designated registration period, unless the requirement is suspended.
The federal agency is slated to implement the registration process for the fiscal year 2021 H-1B cap selection process, pending completed testing of the system.