Important Updates
Important Updates
September 4, 2025 | OmanOman: New Licensing Requirement for Select Roles 
September 5, 2025 | SingaporeFragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan Named 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs Winners
September 5, 2025 | United StatesPartner Archana Iyer Wins "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards
September 5, 2025 | United StatesTimes of India: A War on Fraud: USCIS to Train Special Armed Agents with Powers to Arrest Applicants and Lawyers
September 5, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for 2021 Venezuela Designation
September 4, 2025 | OmanOman: New Licensing Requirement for Select Roles 
September 5, 2025 | SingaporeFragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan Named 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs Winners
September 5, 2025 | United StatesPartner Archana Iyer Wins "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards
September 5, 2025 | United StatesTimes of India: A War on Fraud: USCIS to Train Special Armed Agents with Powers to Arrest Applicants and Lawyers
September 5, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for 2021 Venezuela Designation
September 4, 2025 | OmanOman: New Licensing Requirement for Select Roles 
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

Awards

Fragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan Named 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs Winners

Fragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan were recognized at the 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs.

Learn more

Awards

Partner Archana Iyer Wins "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards

Partner Archana Iyer won the "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards.

Learn more

Media mentions

Times of India: A War on Fraud: USCIS to Train Special Armed Agents with Powers to Arrest Applicants and Lawyers

Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how USCIS’s new rule could potentially increase enforcement and affect how applicants interact with the US immigration system.

Learn more

Blog post

Red Carpet or Red Tape? Indonesia’s Immigration Strategy After the Election

Assistant Business Immigration Manager Raga Rasuanta discusses Indonesia’s post-election immigration strategy and its shift toward balancing openness to global talent with increased regulatory scrutiny.

Learn more

Fragomen news

2025年8月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェストLearn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Center for Strategy and Applied Insights Names Leah Rogal Senior Director

Fragomen announces the appointment of Leah Rogal as Senior Director of its Center for Strategy and Applied Insights.

Learn more

Blog post

Moving to Saudi Arabia: How Orientation Programs Help Expats Adjust

Destination Services Manager Ali Sikandar discusses how orientation programmes in Saudi Arabia help expatriates adapt to cultural differences, workplace norms and everyday challenges, easing their transition into a new environment.

Learn more

Blog post

Exploring Self-Sponsored Visa Pathways in the UAE

Manager Olga Astapova outlines options for individuals to obtain residency without employer sponsorship, highlighting legal routes and strategic considerations.

Learn more

Video

Ireland 2025 Submission Period Opens for Consultation on Occupation Lists | #MobilityMinute

Senior Manager Fatima Aydin discusses Ireland's 2025 public consultation on the occupations lists, and how stakeholders such as employers can provide input.

Learn more

Blog post

Swiss Immigration Quotas 2025: Mid-Year Update

Manager Mihaela Dumitru outlines Switzerland's evolving immigration policies and quota adjustments for 2025.

Learn more

Video

German Citizenship by Descent Explained

Learn how to apply for German citizenship by descent. Discover eligibility under Article 116 and Section 15, benefits of EU citizenship and the step-by-step application process.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Immigration: Huge Fall in Health and Care Worker Visas

Partner Siobhan Owers discussed how visa reforms are reducing available international staff and creating workforce challenges in the UK care sector.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan Named 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs Winners

Fragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan were recognized at the 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs.

Learn more

Awards

Partner Archana Iyer Wins "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards

Partner Archana Iyer won the "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards.

Learn more

Media mentions

Times of India: A War on Fraud: USCIS to Train Special Armed Agents with Powers to Arrest Applicants and Lawyers

Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how USCIS’s new rule could potentially increase enforcement and affect how applicants interact with the US immigration system.

Learn more

Blog post

Red Carpet or Red Tape? Indonesia’s Immigration Strategy After the Election

Assistant Business Immigration Manager Raga Rasuanta discusses Indonesia’s post-election immigration strategy and its shift toward balancing openness to global talent with increased regulatory scrutiny.

Learn more

Fragomen news

2025年8月 アメリカ移民法ダイジェストLearn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Center for Strategy and Applied Insights Names Leah Rogal Senior Director

Fragomen announces the appointment of Leah Rogal as Senior Director of its Center for Strategy and Applied Insights.

Learn more

Blog post

Moving to Saudi Arabia: How Orientation Programs Help Expats Adjust

Destination Services Manager Ali Sikandar discusses how orientation programmes in Saudi Arabia help expatriates adapt to cultural differences, workplace norms and everyday challenges, easing their transition into a new environment.

Learn more

Blog post

Exploring Self-Sponsored Visa Pathways in the UAE

Manager Olga Astapova outlines options for individuals to obtain residency without employer sponsorship, highlighting legal routes and strategic considerations.

Learn more

Video

Ireland 2025 Submission Period Opens for Consultation on Occupation Lists | #MobilityMinute

Senior Manager Fatima Aydin discusses Ireland's 2025 public consultation on the occupations lists, and how stakeholders such as employers can provide input.

Learn more

Blog post

Swiss Immigration Quotas 2025: Mid-Year Update

Manager Mihaela Dumitru outlines Switzerland's evolving immigration policies and quota adjustments for 2025.

Learn more

Video

German Citizenship by Descent Explained

Learn how to apply for German citizenship by descent. Discover eligibility under Article 116 and Section 15, benefits of EU citizenship and the step-by-step application process.

Learn more

Media mentions

Personnel Today: Immigration: Huge Fall in Health and Care Worker Visas

Partner Siobhan Owers discussed how visa reforms are reducing available international staff and creating workforce challenges in the UK care sector.

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.