Washington: The US government has announced significant changes to its yearly lottery system for H-1B specialty occupation visas, which are widely used by Indian IT professionals. The goal is to reduce the potential for fraud and make the registration process smoother.

Recently, the US launched a pilot program to allow H-1B visa renewals within the country, which could greatly benefit many Indian tech workers.

The H-1B visa allows American companies to hire foreign workers for specialized jobs requiring technical or theoretical expertise. Tech firms, especially, rely heavily on this visa to recruit talent from countries like India and China.

The revamped system now focuses on individual applicants rather than multiple applications from the same person, which previously led to abuse and fraud. Each applicant will be assessed based on their personal details, such as passport numbers.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced new rules to enhance the integrity of the H-1B registration process and reduce fraud. These changes aim to ensure fairness in the selection process regardless of the number of applications submitted.

"We're always seeking ways to improve integrity and prevent fraud while simplifying our application procedures," said USCIS Director Ur M Jaddou.

The registration for the fiscal 2025 H-1B cap will open on March 6 and remain active until March 22. Employers must register beneficiaries electronically during this period.

The USCIS emphasizes a beneficiary-centric approach, meaning selections will be based on individual beneficiaries rather than registrations. This change is intended to prevent fraud and ensure fairness.

Starting from fiscal 2025, applicants must provide valid passport information for each beneficiary during registration. USCIS will also clarify rules regarding employment start dates and reserves the right to deny or revoke petitions based on false information or invalid payments.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has praised these changes, stating that they will create a more equitable lottery system, especially after last year's overwhelming number of registrations.

"After last year's chaos with over 750,000 registrations for just 85,000 visas, it's clear that changes were needed. AILA and our partners advocated for reforms that prioritize fairness, and we're pleased to see these changes implemented," said Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, Director of Government Relations at AILA.

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