What is an Employer myUSCIS Account?

Employers who wish to recruit highly skilled foreign workers under the H-1B visa program must register with myUSCIS in order to set up a “registrant” account. This account is necessary for electronic registration and is an essential step in the H-1B application process. The myUSCIS online registrant account will allow an employer to submit registrations online for the H-1B lottery and track their status. Whether an employer will submit their own registrations or work with an attorney, the employer must have a myUSCIS registrant account.

When can an Employer Create a myUSCIS Account?

For the H-1B registration window occurring in March 2023, employers can create the required myUSCIS account beginning at noon Eastern on Feb. 21, 2023.

How does an Employer Create a myUSCIS Account?

To begin, go to my.uscis.gov. In the upper right-hand corner, hover over the dropdown arrow next to “Sign In” and select “Create Account.” Enter the email address of the user who will manage the account. Ensure that a unique e‐mail address is used, and not one that is shared. Note that one individual may serve as the authorized signatory for several entities/employers, but each entity/employer must have its own email address and myUSCIS account.

Enter the email address a second time and click “Sign Up.”

The system will direct you to create a password, where you must enter and then confirm your own password for the account. Letters, numbers, and special characters are permitted in passwords, which must be between 8 and 64 characters long.

The Two-Step Verification Method page will then be displayed to you by the system. USCIS employs a two-step login verification process to protect myUSCIS accounts. Every time you log in, you must additionally input a brief verification code in addition to your password. You can choose how you want to get that code here.

After that, the system will prompt you for a password reset. In the event that you ever need to reset your password, you must choose five security questions that will be used to verify your identity.

IMPORTANT: The page after that is the account type page, where you can select from a list of 3 different types of accounts. Be sure to select “I am an H-1B registrant.” Do NOT select the account for an applicant, petitioner, or requestor. Again, you must ensure that the correct type of account is selected in order to use this account to register prospective employees in the H-B lottery. You must select “I am an H-1B registrant” here.

If you are working with an attorney for your company’s registrations, STOP HERE until the attorney provides you with a representative passcode during the actual filing window.

When is the H-1B Registration Window for this Year?

The initial registration period for the H-1B cap for the fiscal year 2024 will begin at noon Eastern on March 1 and go through noon Eastern on March 17, 2023.

Your attorney will gather the information needed for each prospective employee your company intends to register. Your attorney will use their own myUSCIS account to initiate the registration process. All of the prospective employees can be entered at one time, or can be done in multiple batches throughout the filing window. Employers working with an attorney do not need to enter any information about the prospective employees.

How does an Employer Complete the Registration when working with an Attorney?

Between March 1^st and March 17^th, your attorney will enter all of the necessary information into the system for each prospective employee being registered. The attorney will then send you a “representative passcode.”

The employer will then log back into their myUSCIS account using the password and two-factor authentication process selected previously. Once logged in, click the button for “Enter representative passcode.” Do NOT select “File a registration” as this may result in duplicate registrations being submitted and possible denial without being included in the lottery.

On the next screen, enter the passcode provided by your attorney and click “Submit and continue.”

You will first be prompted to review the attorney’s form G-28, which allows the attorney to represent you in the submission of the registrations for the lotter. Click “Review the G-28.” If all information is filled in correctly, select “I accept the G-28 and want to provide my signature” then click “Next.” You must then give your consent by checking all required boxes and typing your name to electronically sign the G-28, then click “Next,” then click “Submit the G-28.”

You will then be prompted to review a summary of the H-1B registration rules and will click “Next.”

If all information is filled in correctly, select “I accept the H-1B Registration and want to provide my signature,” the click “Next.”

Check the box confirming that you have read and understand your answers and click “Next.”

Next, you must give your consent by clicking all the required boxes and typing your name to sign electronically and click “Next.”  Then click “Finish and send.” You, as the employer should not have to take any further steps. The remaining steps in the process will be completed by your attorney. If you get to a screen asking you to pay the registration fee, STOP. That means something was completed improperly and you and your attorney may be about to accidentally submit duplicate registrations, which can lead to rejection without your knowledge.

If You Need Help

Reddy Neumann Brown PC is well-versed in the account creation and registration process and can guide you step by step. If you require help in creating a registrant account, entering a passcode, or accepting the G-28 and registration, please contact any Reddy & Neumann team member.

What Happens Next with the H-1B Lottery?

The registration process described above is only the first step in sponsoring an H-1B worker who is subject to the annual cap. The government will randomly select a sufficient number of registrations to use all of the available visas for the year. If your registration is selected, the employer will then begin the process of filing a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor and the I-129 Petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The earliest the visa will take effect is October 1, 2023.

Ready to take the next step?

Both businesses and foreign workers may find the H-1B lottery to be a complicated and difficult process. Since there are only a few visas available each year, it’s essential to have a thorough plan in place to increase your chances of success. We are committed to assisting our clients with navigating the H-1B lottery and other challenging immigration matters as an accomplished immigration law firm in Houston, Texas. Our team is here to offer the direction and support you require, whether you’re a company trying to hire top talent or a foreign worker seeking to develop a career in the United States. To find out more about how we can help you with your immigration issues, get in touch with us right away.

By: Emily Neumann

Emily Neumann is Managing Partner at Reddy Neumann Brown PC. with over 15 years of experience practicing US immigration law providing services to U.S. businesses and multinational corporations. Emily has helped transform the firm from a solo practice to Houston’s largest immigration law firm focused exclusively on U.S. employment-based immigration.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Central Michigan University and her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Emily has been quoted in Bloomberg Law, U.S. News & World Report, Inside Higher Ed, and The Times of India on various hot topics in immigration. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Society for Human Resource Management.

In today’s global economy, being able to navigate the immigration process is critical to your business success. If you are a Legal Dreamer ageing out, speak with one of our immigration lawyers. Please contact us online, call our Houston business immigration attorney office directly at 713-953-7787, or schedule a consultation.