
At a glance
- The long-awaited final H-1B cap registration rule has cleared Office of Management and Budget review and is expected to be published soon.
- As proposed, the rule would require employers to register online to file H-1B cap cases and would reverse the order of the regular and advanced-degree cap lotteries. The final rule could postpone online registration to a future year.
- Employers should continue to prepare as usual for the coming H-1B filing season, which begins April 1.
The situation
A regulation that would require employers to register online prior to submission of an H-1B cap filing and would switch the order of the regular and advance-degree cap lotteries has cleared Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review – the final step before the rule’s publication and implementation.
Though the contents of the final rule will remain confidential until released for publication, USCIS has suggested that the online registration component may be postponed until next year. The reordering of the lotteries is expected to be implemented for the FY 2020 cap season, which begins April 1.
What this means
Your organization should continue to work with your Fragomen team to prepare for the upcoming H-1B cap season as usual. Advance preparation is necessary to assess each case’s eligibility before registrations are submitted, regardless of whether online registration is implemented this year. If online registration is deferred, employers must be prepared to submit a full H-1B cap petition and supporting evidence for each beneficiary as usual.
Fragomen is closely monitoring the status of the rule and will issue an update when an advance copy becomes available.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
Explore more at Fragomen

Blog post
Director Johannes Tiba explores the proposal to grant automatic employment authorization to spouses of work visa holders in South Africa.

Media mentions
UK: Partner Haider Hussain clarifies that UAE Golden Visa applications must go through official government channels, warning against unauthorised fees and misinformation.

Media mentions
Director Laurence Keir-Thomas outlines how recent changes to UK immigration and industrial policy may affect talent planning and hiring across the games sector.

Video
In this Mobility Minute, Senior Consultant Ada Plant discusses how Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) no longer accepts incomplete temporary residence applications.

Awards
Partner Julia Onslow-Cole is named to the prestigious Citywealth Leaders List 2025, which recognises leading professionals in wealth management and private client services.

Media mentions
Partner Ángel Bello Cortés discusses how Ireland’s Department of Justice is rolling out AI tools to reduce fraud risks in the immigration process.

Media mentions
Partner Isha Atassi discusses the impact of immigration policy changes on financial firms’ global mobility and workforce planning.

Blog post
Director Laxmi Limbani discusses strategies for securing talent in the UK space sector amid recent immigration reforms.

Blog post
This blog highlights the most significant immigration trends across both Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC) in 2025.

Video
In this video, Partner Jack Kim explains how Canada’s Express Entry system works.

Awards
Fragomen and Partner Julia Onslow-Cole are shortlisted for the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 Awards.

Media mentions
Associate Aisha Shahid highlights how upcoming UK immigration reforms may impact key sectors and urges businesses to prepare.

Blog post
Director Johannes Tiba explores the proposal to grant automatic employment authorization to spouses of work visa holders in South Africa.

Media mentions
UK: Partner Haider Hussain clarifies that UAE Golden Visa applications must go through official government channels, warning against unauthorised fees and misinformation.

Media mentions
Director Laurence Keir-Thomas outlines how recent changes to UK immigration and industrial policy may affect talent planning and hiring across the games sector.

Video
In this Mobility Minute, Senior Consultant Ada Plant discusses how Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) no longer accepts incomplete temporary residence applications.

Awards
Partner Julia Onslow-Cole is named to the prestigious Citywealth Leaders List 2025, which recognises leading professionals in wealth management and private client services.

Media mentions
Partner Ángel Bello Cortés discusses how Ireland’s Department of Justice is rolling out AI tools to reduce fraud risks in the immigration process.

Media mentions
Partner Isha Atassi discusses the impact of immigration policy changes on financial firms’ global mobility and workforce planning.

Blog post
Director Laxmi Limbani discusses strategies for securing talent in the UK space sector amid recent immigration reforms.

Blog post
This blog highlights the most significant immigration trends across both Europe and Asia Pacific (APAC) in 2025.

Video
In this video, Partner Jack Kim explains how Canada’s Express Entry system works.

Awards
Fragomen and Partner Julia Onslow-Cole are shortlisted for the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 Awards.

Media mentions
Associate Aisha Shahid highlights how upcoming UK immigration reforms may impact key sectors and urges businesses to prepare.