The change and its date
The H-1B registration final rule became effective March 4, 2024, for the FY2025 cap season.
USCIS changed selection to focus on unique beneficiaries rather than giving an individual more chances through multiple registrations, and required valid passport or travel-document information.
Current status
Effective framework, later supplemented by the H-1B modernization rule and current annual registration instructions.
This status is stated as of September 5, 2026. Readers should check the linked agency page before relying on it because court orders, implementation instructions, form editions, and agency guidance can change.
Why the distinction matters
Employers and representatives needed stronger identity controls and could no longer treat duplicate legitimate registrations as multiplying a beneficiary's selection odds.
An announcement date, publication date, effective date, filing date, and decision date can produce different consequences. Keep a dated copy of the official instruction that governed the action actually taken.
Practical preparation steps
This archive explains public information; it is not individualized legal advice. Do not change status, travel, employment, benefits, or filing strategy without checking the current rule and obtaining qualified legal advice where needed.
- Use the beneficiary's identity exactly as shown on the valid document
- Coordinate registrations without sharing false attestations
- Preserve selection notices and registration records
- Check each year's registration window and fee