US Adopts Beneficiary-Centric Approach for Fairer H-1B Visa Selections

Dive Right Into

Key Takeaways

USCIS introduced a beneficiary-centric H-1B selection system on December 17, 2024, limiting each beneficiary to one entry.
FY 2025 registrations dropped 38.6%, to 470,342, reducing duplicate entries from 1.70 in FY 2024 to 1.06 per beneficiary.
FY 2025 H-1B registration occurred March 6–22, 2024, with selection outcomes notified online from March 25–31 and in August.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a major update to the H-1B visa selection system known as the beneficiary-centric approach. This adjustment, which officially came into effect on December 17, 2024, for the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B season, focuses on leveling the playing field for applicants by ensuring fairness during the selection process. It has changed the way registrations are assessed and selected, marking an important development for both United States employers and prospective H-1B beneficiaries.

How the Beneficiary-Centric Selection Works

US Adopts Beneficiary-Centric Approach for Fairer H-1B Visa Selections

Under this new selection system, USCIS limits each unique beneficiary to a single entry into the selection pool, irrespective of how many employers submit registrations on their behalf. In this context, the term “beneficiary-centric” refers to the fact that the focus is now on the individual applying for the visa (the beneficiary), rather than the number of registrations submitted for them. Beneficiaries are counted only once using a unique identifier, such as their passport number. If selected, all employers who registered for that individual are eligible to proceed with H-1B petition filings.

To streamline the process, employers must ensure the following steps are taken:

Submit registrations for each individual candidate they intend to sponsor.
Provide a valid passport or other approved travel document for the beneficiary to ensure accurate identification during the selection process.
Understand that if eligible registrations exceed the available visa slots, a computerized lottery system will still be used, first for the 65,000 standard visa cap and then for the 20,000 slots reserved for candidates eligible under the Master’s Cap Exemption (those with U.S. advanced degrees).

The 2025 registration period kicked off on March 6, 2024, and concluded on March 22, 2024. After reviewing registrations, USCIS began notifying applicants of selection outcomes through their online accounts between March 25 and March 31, 2025. A secondary round of selections, instituted in August 2024, ensured visa numbers allocated under the regular cap were fully utilized.

Data-Driven Outcomes: A Noticeable Reduction in Multiple Registrations

Concerns over system exploitation drove USCIS to adopt this change. During FY 2024, USCIS recorded 780,884 total registrations, with 408,891 of those registrations tied to beneficiaries who had multiple submissions. The previous system allowed related companies to submit numerous entries for the same candidate, increasing their odds of selection. In contrast, FY 2025 experienced a significant decline in both total registrations (470,342 submissions, marking a 38.6% decrease) and duplicate entries (an average of just 1.06 registrations per individual beneficiary, down from 1.70 in FY 2024).

By reducing opportunities for multiple registrations, USCIS addressed fairness issues created by such loopholes, aligning the process more closely with ethical practice and promoting equal chances for each applicant.

The Broader Impacts on Employers and Applicants

This change carries several implications for employers, beneficiaries, and the overall operation of the H-1B system:

Improved Fairness: Each beneficiary now has an equal opportunity to be selected, regardless of the volume of registrations submitted on their behalf. This change has helped create a system of fairness for all applicants.
Discouragement of Fraud: Limiting opportunities for multiple registrations makes it harder for bad actors to exploit the system for unfair gains. Employers must adopt ethical hiring practices, with the focus shifting to quality sponsorship.
Flexibility for Beneficiaries: Selected beneficiaries have the option of working with multiple employers, as multiple employers can file petitions once the beneficiary has been selected. This aspect offers greater freedom to beneficiaries to choose their employer.
Decreased Registrations: The drop in total and duplicate registrations under the new system creates a noticeable benefit for all, as fewer beneficiaries are competing, making the selection process more efficient.
Strategic Employer Decisions: Employers now need to approach the lottery strategically, knowing the increased scrutiny and ethical expectations. A focus on compliance with the new rules will significantly impact the sponsorship process.

Additional H-1B Changes

Alongside this new beneficiary-centric selection approach, USCIS introduced complementary adjustments to H-1B processes to further streamline and improve the system:

Elimination of Itinerary Requirements: Employers no longer need to submit a detailed breakdown of job assignments for the entire duration of an H-1B visa. This improvement reduces the administrative burden on sponsors.
Flexibility for F-1 Students Transitioning to H-1B Status: The updated rules grant F-1 students flexibility to maintain valid work authorization and lawful stay during the transition period, allowing for smoother transitions between visa categories.
Increased Filing Fees: Alongside the introduction of a $600 Asylum Program fee for employers, the H-1B application fee rose from $460 to $780. This cost increase reflects USCIS’s broader fee adjustments to fund immigration services.
New Tools and Updated Forms: USCIS rolled out an updated Form I-129 in January 2025 while introducing online systems to simplify application processing.
Improved Online Payment Systems: Employers new to the process now have access to enhanced payment systems. However, daily limits for credit card payments (capped below $40,000) apply.

The changes and upgrades to H-1B processing demonstrate USCIS’s evolving efforts to modernize the visa system, meet current demands more effectively, and discourage misuse of the registration system.

Looking Ahead

As the Fiscal Year 2026 H-1B lottery period approaches, starting March 7, 2025, applicants and employers must plan for the continued use of the beneficiary-centric approach. The system’s extension highlights USCIS’s firm commitment to its principles of equity and efficiency within skilled labor mobility.

Navigating a New Era in H-1B Selection

The introduction of a beneficiary-centric H-1B visa selection system indicates a fundamental shift in how USCIS handles skilled worker visa applications. With the focus now placed on counting beneficiaries instead of the volume of registrations, the system seeks to ensure integrity and balance in the selection process. Data from FY 2025 underscores the fairness and efficiency achieved through reduced multiple entries and lower overall registrations.

Additionally, recent changes like increased employer fees, streamlined processes for F-1 students, and the elimination of itinerary requirements further show USCIS’s intention to improve the quality of the H-1B program overall. Analysis from VisaVerge.com highlights that these shifts benefit both applicants and employers while establishing higher standards for compliance and ethics.

The beneficiary-centric system requires close attention and informed preparation from all parties involved. As USCIS continues to refine the program and address potential challenges, staying prepared and informed will be essential. Employers should adopt an adaptive approach, while beneficiaries should ensure that their documentation and registrations align with the new system to maximize their chances of successful selection and petition approval.

To access detailed instructions on filing an H-1B petition under USCIS guidelines, refer to USCIS’s official page on H-1B Specialty Occupations (link).

The changes reflect progress in aligning the U.S. immigration system toward fairer and simpler practices, benefitting employers and foreign professionals alike. As the system continues to unfold, this transformation is an important milestone in creating an equitable visa selection process that levels the playing field for highly skilled workers worldwide.

Learn Today

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) → The U.S. government agency managing immigration and naturalization processes, including H-1B visa applications and approvals.
H-1B Visa → A non-immigrant visa allowing U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring advanced skills or education.
Beneficiary-Centric Approach → A system focusing on individual applicants (beneficiaries) for selection, disregarding the number of employer registrations for them.
Master’s Cap Exemption → A special exemption reserving 20,000 additional H-1B visas annually for beneficiaries with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.
Duplicate Entry → Multiple submissions of registrations for the same H-1B applicant, often to increase the chance of selection, now restricted by USCIS.

This Article in a Nutshell

USCIS’s new beneficiary-centric H-1B selection system, effective December 2024, prioritizes fairness by limiting each applicant to one lottery entry, leveling competition. Multiple employer sponsorships remain allowed, boosting flexibility for beneficiaries. This change reduces duplicates, deters fraud, and streamlines processes, ensuring an ethical, efficient approach to skilled worker visa applications.
— By VisaVerge.com