Important Updates
Important Updates
September 25, 2025 | Saudi ArabiaAsharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد
September 26, 2025 | United StatesBusiness Insider: Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Threatens Wall Street's Pipeline of Junior Bankers and Tech Talent
September 26, 2025 | CanadaCanada: Artificial Intelligence Screening Piloted at Border Crossings
September 26, 2025Moldova: Digital Nomad Visa Introduced
September 26, 2025 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Additional Concession Granted for Individuals With Pending Applications Due to Processing Delays
September 25, 2025 | Saudi ArabiaAsharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد
September 26, 2025 | United StatesBusiness Insider: Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Threatens Wall Street's Pipeline of Junior Bankers and Tech Talent
September 26, 2025 | CanadaCanada: Artificial Intelligence Screening Piloted at Border Crossings
September 26, 2025Moldova: Digital Nomad Visa Introduced
September 26, 2025 | South AfricaSouth Africa: Additional Concession Granted for Individuals With Pending Applications Due to Processing Delays
September 25, 2025 | Saudi ArabiaAsharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationTravel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle EastImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapHumanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)Vietnamese ImmigrationView More
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Travel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle East
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Humanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • View More

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
  • Insights

United States: USCIS Received Record Number of Eligible Registrations for the FY 2024 H-1B Cap, Including Surge in Multiple Registrations Per Individual

April 28, 2023

insight-news-default

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

At a Glance

  • USCIS received a record 758,994 eligible registrations for the FY 2024 H-1B cap season – a 60% increase over last year’s eligible registration pool.
  • The agency selected 110,791 beneficiaries to reach the H-1B quota of 85,000, for an overall selection rate of 14.6%. During the FY 2023 cap season, the overall selection rate was 26.9%.
  • USCIS reports that 408,891 registrations were submitted on behalf of individuals who were the beneficiaries of multiple registrations, raising concerns about potential misuse of the H-1B cap registration system. This has prompted USCIS to begin investigations and to prepare referrals to law enforcement in cases of suspected fraud.

The issue

USCIS announced today that it received 758,994 eligible registrations for the FY 2024 H-1B cap season – a record number of registrations and an increase of 60% over last year’s eligible registration pool.  The agency selected 110,791 registrations to meet the annual H-1B quota of 85,000, meaning that registrants had a 14.6% chance of selection, far lower than last year’s 26.9% selection rate.

USCIS normally selects more registrations than needed to meet the annual quota, to account for cases for which no petition is ultimately filed, as well as cases that are denied, rejected, withdrawn, or revoked.  However, this year’s selection rate was markedly lower in comparison to previous years, when selection rates ranged from 26 to 42%.  USCIS has said that it selected fewer registrations in the lottery because of higher demand for Chile/Singapore H-1B1 visas, which are carved out of the overall H-1B quota, and because it expected a higher rate of petition filings from employers whose registrations were selected in the cap lottery.  USCIS did not disclose the number of registrations selected against the H-1B cap exemption for individuals with U.S. advanced degrees.

A closer look at the surge in registrations

There are several reasons for the dramatic increase in the number of registrations for the FY 2024 season.  At least some of surge was attributable to normal increases in demand in a persistently tight labor market.   But the most significant contributor was a marked increase in beneficiaries for whom more than one registration was filed.  According to USCIS, some 408,891 registrations were submitted for individuals who benefited from multiple sponsors submitting cap registrations on their behalf, thus increasing their odds of selection in the H-1B lottery.  Though there are circumstances in which multiple registrations are permissible, this year’s surge has raised concerns about potential misuse of the H-1B registration system, prompting USCIS to begin investigations and in some cases prepare criminal referrals to law enforcement.

Multiple cap registrations and related enforcement

USCIS rules restrict the circumstances under which a single beneficiary can be registered for the cap lottery by multiple sponsors.  For each registration, the sponsoring organization must attest that it has a bona fide job offer for the registration beneficiary and has not worked with another individual or entity to unfairly increase the odds of selection in the cap lottery.  There are circumstances in which a single foreign national may legitimately be registered for the lottery by multiple entities – for example, where the foreign national has received bona fide job offers from several unrelated employers.  Multiple registrations become problematic, however, when sponsors do not make bona fide job offers and are attempting to unfairly increase a beneficiary’s chances of selection in the lottery.

There are many unanswered questions about the trend in multiple registrations this cap season and in USCIS’s plans to address that trend.  However, in press reports today, agency officials indicated that they had evidence of collusion between “several dozen” small technology firms that allegedly sought to secure large numbers of lottery selections, petition for winning beneficiaries, then place those beneficiaries at third-party worksites or terminate their employment to allow them to take up H-1B employment with other employers.  It is not yet clear whether USCIS’s enforcement efforts center on the entities that submitted the registrations or whether they may extend to entities at which affected H-1B workers are placed or to which they transfer.  Employers who are presented with opportunities to hire or receive placements of individuals originally sponsored by little-known or seemingly questionable entities should contact their Fragomen team as soon as possible.

Will USCIS conduct a second cap selection lottery for FY 2024?

The low rate of lottery selection has caused significant concern in the business community, with many employers left unable to meet their H-1B employment needs.  It is not yet clear whether USCIS will run a second lottery for cap employment in FY 2024.  It is unlikely that USCIS will make a decision on a second lottery until July at the earliest, after the petition filing period for selected registrants closes.  During the FY 2021 and 2022 cap seasons, USCIS conducted multiple selections to reach the cap, but did not do so during the FY 2023 season.

Fragomen is closely monitoring the FY 2024 H-1B cap and related investigatory and enforcement efforts by USCIS and other agencies.  If you have any questions about this alert, please contact your designated Fragomen representative or the firm’s Government Strategies and Compliance Group.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions

Business Insider: Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Threatens Wall Street's Pipeline of Junior Bankers and Tech Talent

Partner Bo Cooper explains how proposed H-1B fee and lottery changes impact hiring of skilled international talent across sectors.

Learn more

Media mentions

Asharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد

Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Spotlighted in Financial Times for 2025 Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards

Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.

Learn more

Media mentions

Investopedia: ICE Crackdowns Are Changing Workplaces: 37% of Americans Report Feeling Less Safe at Work

Partner Daniel Brown outlines steps companies can take to support employees and maintain smooth operations during compliance-related situations.

Learn more

Awards

The Best Law Firms™ in Germany 2026 Recognizes Fragomen

Fragomen has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms™ in Germany, earning a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Hessen for Labor and Employment Law.

Learn more

Media mentions

Khaleej Times: $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee to Boost Demand for UAE's Golden, Freelance, Remote Work Visas

Partner Shayan Sultan discusses a rise in inquiries about UAE residency and remote work programmes amid global talent mobility trends.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Sponsor Licence Revocation: What HR and Mobility Leaders Need to Know

Partner Rajiv Naik, Senior Manager Thomas Kingsmill and Manager Ko Ito highlight rising UK sponsor licence revocations and how HR and mobility leaders can manage the impact.

Learn more

Media mentions

Reuters: Financial Firms to Feel Outsized Impact From Trump's H-1B Overhaul

Partner Bo Cooper discusses the $100,000 H-1B fee and its impact on financial, banking and technology firms relying on international talent.

Learn more

Media mentions

CNBC: Europe’s Work-Life Balance a Key Talent Draw as Trump Revamps H-1B Visa

Partner Louise Haycock highlights how the UK's immigration system and Skilled Worker visa changes support employers in planning talent pipelines.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Wall Street Journal: Tech’s H-1B Debate: Is Trump’s New Fee a Solution or Setback?

Partner Audrea Golding explains how the $100,000 H-1B fee could affect hiring across the tech industry.

Learn more

Blog post

Visa Applications and Document Services: Avoiding Delays and Ensuring Compliance

Immigration Supervisor Nathalie Pimenta and Immigration Programme Manager Frida Sakaj discuss the importance of planning visa applications and document services early to avoid delays and ensure compliance with UK regulations.

Learn more

Fragomen news

2025年9月22日 アメリカ移民法速報Learn more

Media mentions

Business Insider: Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Threatens Wall Street's Pipeline of Junior Bankers and Tech Talent

Partner Bo Cooper explains how proposed H-1B fee and lottery changes impact hiring of skilled international talent across sectors.

Learn more

Media mentions

Asharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد

Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Spotlighted in Financial Times for 2025 Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards

Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.

Learn more

Media mentions

Investopedia: ICE Crackdowns Are Changing Workplaces: 37% of Americans Report Feeling Less Safe at Work

Partner Daniel Brown outlines steps companies can take to support employees and maintain smooth operations during compliance-related situations.

Learn more

Awards

The Best Law Firms™ in Germany 2026 Recognizes Fragomen

Fragomen has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms™ in Germany, earning a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Hessen for Labor and Employment Law.

Learn more

Media mentions

Khaleej Times: $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee to Boost Demand for UAE's Golden, Freelance, Remote Work Visas

Partner Shayan Sultan discusses a rise in inquiries about UAE residency and remote work programmes amid global talent mobility trends.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Sponsor Licence Revocation: What HR and Mobility Leaders Need to Know

Partner Rajiv Naik, Senior Manager Thomas Kingsmill and Manager Ko Ito highlight rising UK sponsor licence revocations and how HR and mobility leaders can manage the impact.

Learn more

Media mentions

Reuters: Financial Firms to Feel Outsized Impact From Trump's H-1B Overhaul

Partner Bo Cooper discusses the $100,000 H-1B fee and its impact on financial, banking and technology firms relying on international talent.

Learn more

Media mentions

CNBC: Europe’s Work-Life Balance a Key Talent Draw as Trump Revamps H-1B Visa

Partner Louise Haycock highlights how the UK's immigration system and Skilled Worker visa changes support employers in planning talent pipelines.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Wall Street Journal: Tech’s H-1B Debate: Is Trump’s New Fee a Solution or Setback?

Partner Audrea Golding explains how the $100,000 H-1B fee could affect hiring across the tech industry.

Learn more

Blog post

Visa Applications and Document Services: Avoiding Delays and Ensuring Compliance

Immigration Supervisor Nathalie Pimenta and Immigration Programme Manager Frida Sakaj discuss the importance of planning visa applications and document services early to avoid delays and ensure compliance with UK regulations.

Learn more

Fragomen news

2025年9月22日 アメリカ移民法速報Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.