Online H-1B visa registration won't be ready for H-1B season

A planned online registration system won't be ready when people can next apply for new H-1B work visas on April 1.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Homeland Security released a copy of new H-1B visa process requirements. The requirements will change the order in which H-1B registrations are selected to help get more qualified job candidates into American businesses. They will also require online registration, once the online system is up and running.

The government had planned to roll out a more modernized registration system by April 1. But the public expressed concern about bringing a new system online too early.

"USCIS has decided to suspend the registration requirement until such time that the registration system is fully tested to be reliably operable, and, as necessary, modified to address commenters concerns," the 214-page final rule draft states..

The H-1B visa is popular in American business. Some companies, especially in the tech sector, use H-1B visas to help fill their workforces.... The work visa is valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years ...

The changes are in line with guidance to implement President Donald Trump's "Buy American, Hire American" strategy...