USCIS Account Upgrade: New Online Organizational Account for H-1B Filing

Key Takeaways

• USCIS Organizational Account is mandatory for all H-1B filings beginning March 2024, replacing old paper and online systems.
• Each H-1B lottery registration requires a unique, valid passport or travel document to prevent duplicate entries.
• All core H-1B forms, including I-129 and I-907, can be filed collaboratively online by employers and attorneys.

The United States 🇺🇸 immigration system has changed greatly in recent years. One of the biggest changes is the new USCIS Organizational Account. This online platform is changing how companies and their lawyers work together to file H-1B visas. As of April 2025, some new rules and updates affect anyone involved in filing these visa cases. If you are an employer, HR manager, attorney, or a person hoping for an H-1B job, it’s important to know how the system now works and what you should do.

To help you make sense of these changes, this article will break down the updates, talk about how the electronic process works, and show you what steps you need to take. We will use plain language and real examples, so you understand what to expect and how it could affect your plans.

Summary of the Changes

• USCIS requires all employers to use the new Organizational Account for every H-1B electronic registration, starting with filings for Fiscal Year 2025.
• Every step of an H-1B application, from signing up for the lottery to sending in full applications and getting a decision, is moving online.
• From March 2024, each worker entered in the lottery must have a valid passport or travel document. This stops people from being registered more than once.
• The system has better ways for company staff and lawyers to work together online, with everyone having their own roles.
• USCIS is fixing technical problems from older accounts being moved over to the new platform.

What Is the USCIS Organizational Account?

The USCIS Organizational Account is an internet platform for companies and their attorneys to work together online when filing H-1B cases. Instead of filling out papers and mailing forms, everything happens on the website.

Some of the most helpful features are:

• Employers and lawyers can work on the same cases, see documents, and check progress together.
• Both regular H-1B lottery filings and some special cases that don’t need the lottery can be filed online.
• The platform supports Form I-129 (the main H-1B application) and Form I-907 (Premium Processing). Premium Processing means paying extra to get a faster answer.
• Staff from different parts of a company can set up a “Company Group.”

USCIS built this system as part of a bigger push to improve government service and make things easier for people.

Updates for 2024–2025: What’s Different Now?

1. Mandatory for All Companies
Starting March 2024, if your company wants to put a name in for the H-1B lottery, you must use an Organizational Account. This rule started with applications for jobs starting in October 2024 and will stay in place for coming years. There is no more paper or old-style online filing for these cases.

2. Required Passport or Travel Document
Each person getting registered for the lottery must have a valid passport or travel document entered in the system:

“USCIS will require registrants to provide valid passport information or valid travel document information… Each beneficiary must only be registered under one passport or travel document.”

This rule is meant to stop the same person from being entered more than once with different companies. If the numbers don’t match up or information is missing, the entry will be thrown out.

3. Online Filing for More Forms
Before 2024, only some parts of the H-1B process could be done online. From March 2024, all H-1B-related forms for selected candidates can be submitted using the new system. The electronic process lets employers and lawyers talk, check documents, and send in payments online. Forms I-129 and I-907 (for fast service) are both included.

4. Ongoing Technical Fixes
When the new system first became active, some people had trouble moving from older accounts. USCIS says:

“We are working expeditiously to address any technical issues… If you previously experienced issues upon logging in after migration, please log back in…”

The agency continues to make changes based on feedback from users to make the platform work better.

How Working Together Online Works

The USCIS Organizational Account splits people into different roles, so everyone knows what they can do:

• Administrator: A company employee who creates the Company Group and manages membership. They control who gets added to the group.
• Member: Other company workers who help get applications ready.
• Legal Representative: The outside lawyer who manages their own legal team but cannot add company employees directly.
• Paralegal: Someone who works with the lawyer but only belongs to one Legal Team at a time.

With this setup, everything is clear: the company controls its group, the law firm controls its members, and cases can be shared as needed—but only in safe, secure ways that protect privacy.

Files available to the team include:

• H-1B registration forms for the lottery
• G–28 notices (these show who the legal representatives are)
• Petition forms
• Premium processing requests, if used

Inviting lawyers is easier now, using secure online invitations instead of old passcodes, and each person gets only the access they need.

Features You Can Use Now, and What’s Still Missing

What Works Well as of April 2025:

• The entire H-1B application process—from getting picked in the lottery to getting a final answer—is online.
• Company groups and legal teams can see and work on the same files at the same time.
• Online invitations make adding members fast and safe.
• Premium Processing can be requested together with the first application, cutting wait times.
• The system checks for common mistakes before you submit, saving time and possibly reducing rejections.
• USCIS says the system will handle more cases and new features in the future.

What’s Not Ready Yet:

• Right now, only regular H-1B work visas can be filed this way. Other types of work visas still need paper or a different website.
• If you send in an application as a paper form, it cannot be changed to an online case later. Everything for that case must stay on paper.
• As of now, online filing does not include applications for dependents (family members of H-1B workers) or for people asking for work permits based on other rules.
• Each “Company Group” works alone—different groups from the same large company cannot yet share cases in the platform.

USCIS staff have said more upgrades are coming, but for now you will need to use paper for applications that do not fit these rules.

What Should Your Business Do Next?

If you plan to file for H-1B workers, you need to get ready for this electronic process. Here are easy steps to follow:

• Create an Organizational Account:
  If your company hasn’t already, make a myUSCIS Organizational Account right away. Even if you used an “individual” or “legacy” account before, you now need a company account to continue filing.
  If you had an old-type account that was not used in 2024, the first time you log in, it will upgrade automatically. Double-check your account settings after this happens to make sure details are correct.

• Assign Roles in Advance:
  Choose who will be the Administrator, who will be other Members, and who will serve as Legal Representatives. Setting up these roles early prevents problems when deadlines are close.

• Gather Document Details:
  Start collecting passport or travel document information from the people you want to sponsor. If information is missing or wrong, those applications will be rejected by USCIS.

• Stay Up to Date:
  USCIS holds regular webinars and “Tech Talks” to answer questions about setting up and managing these accounts. These sessions often answer problems that many companies and attorneys face. Schedules and helpful documents can be found at the Organizational Accounts FAQ.

You should also watch for updates about more forms going online or changes to how the electronic process works.

Impact: What Does This Mean for Employers and Workers?

For employers, lawyers, and foreign workers, the shift to the USCIS Organizational Account and the electronic process brings both good news and new challenges.

Benefits:

• No more paper forms to lose or delays because of mail.
• Everyone involved in the case—company staff, HR, and lawyers—can see what’s going on in real time.
• The system checks your forms before submission, making errors less likely and reducing the chance of having cases thrown out.
• Decisions may come quicker, especially if you choose Premium Processing.
• You can track every stage of the H-1B filing and see what needs attention.

Challenges:

• People need to learn the new system. There is a learning curve, especially for those used to sending in paper forms.
• Some business units might need more training to use the roles and permissions correctly.
• The system is new, so some technical problems or bugs are still possible, though USCIS is improving things quickly.
• Paper-based options are still required for certain case types, which can cause confusion.

Despite these bumps, most companies and law firms say the electronic process is much smoother. For most users, it is now easier to see what is happening with their cases, make corrections quickly, and avoid mistakes that would have caused delays in the old system.

What’s Coming in the Future?

USCIS has stated that more changes and features are on the way. The basic platform is designed so it can grow and add more functions. In the coming years, users can expect to see:

• Support for filing more visa types (besides H-1B) online.
• Easier ways for larger companies with many user groups to share information securely.
• More help for filing forms for dependents or combined applications.
• Faster answers and less paperwork for all types of employment-based visas.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these upgrades should help everyone involved by cutting wait times and making the immigration process more open and easy to follow.

Timeline of Major Events Since Early 2024

Here’s a quick look at key dates and changes so far:

In Summary

The move to online H-1B filing with USCIS Organizational Accounts is one of the biggest steps toward a fully digital immigration process in the United States 🇺🇸. It gives companies, lawyers, and foreign workers a faster way to work together and track cases. Although there are some limitations and a period of adjustment, most users see quicker results, fewer errors, and more control over their filings.

If you are planning to sponsor H-1B workers or apply as a worker, you should:

• Make sure your company has a USCIS Organizational Account.
• Set up the right roles.
• Collect all needed passport information early.
• Keep watching for new updates from USCIS.
• Use official resources like the Organizational Accounts FAQ for current rules and help.

Remember, these tools are improving and will soon make even more parts of the immigration process electronic. For complicated situations, always talk to a trusted immigration lawyer to make sure you stay compliant and avoid risks.

This article gives general information and should not be used as legal advice. For advice on your specific case, consult a qualified immigration attorney.

Learn Today

USCIS Organizational Account → A digital USCIS platform allowing employers and attorneys to manage H-1B filings together online, replacing old paper-based processes.
H-1B Lottery → A randomized selection system used by USCIS to allocate limited H-1B visa slots among registered applicants annually.
Form I-129 → The primary petition form submitted to USCIS by employers seeking to sponsor workers for H-1B nonimmigrant status.
Premium Processing → An optional USCIS service where, for an additional fee, cases like H-1B are processed much faster than normal times.
Legal Representative → An attorney or accredited representative authorized to act on behalf of the employer or beneficiary in immigration filings.

This Article in a Nutshell

USCIS now requires all employers to use its Organizational Account for H-1B filings. This streamlined, digital platform enables employers, HR, and attorneys to collaborate online, enhancing speed and accuracy. New requirements, like passport validation, and complete online submissions modernize U.S. immigration, but some types still require paper filings for now.
— By VisaVerge.com