Glitch in H-1B registration system causes concern among immigration attorneys

American Immigration Lawyers Association alerts members to missing signatures on Form G-28, seeks clarification from USCIS

The opening of the registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap on March 6, 2024, has been marred by a glitch in the system, causing concern among immigration attorneys.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) said on Friday, March 8, 2024, that it received reports regarding missing signatures on the PDF version of Form G-28, a document required for H-1B cap registrations when submitted by attorneys.

(Form G-28 is required when an employer submits the registration through an attorney. It is not required if an employer submits the registration directly using its organizational account.)

READ: New beneficiary-centric approach likely to cut number of H-1B registrations by half (March 5, 2024)

USCIS has instructed affected attorneys not to proceed with submitting registrations until the glitch is resolved.

However, several attorneys had already submitted their registrations and paid the necessary fees before noticing the missing signatures. This has left many legal representatives in a state of uncertainty, unsure of the status of their submissions and the potential implications for their clients.

READ: Everything you need to know about H-1B visa program 

The registration process will close on March 22, 2024.

AILA  stated in its email that it has been closely monitoring the situation and is awaiting further guidance from USCIS on the next steps for those who have already submitted registrations. USCIS has assured that they are actively working to resolve the glitch and are committed to providing a response by no later than Monday.

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AILA has reminded its members to report any technical difficulties with organizational accounts and the H-1B registration process promptly. By following the provided instructions, AILA aims to facilitate communication between attorneys and USCIS, ensuring that all issues are addressed in a timely manner, the organization said.