H-1B registration starts March 6, 2024, and a new report finds denial rates for H-1B petitions rose in FY 2023. “The denial rate for H-1B petitions for initial employment (new H-1B petitions that count against the annual cap) rose to 3.5% in FY 2023 from 2.2% in FY 2022,” according to a new National Foundation for American Policy study. “An NFAP analysis found almost two-thirds of the higher denial rate can be attributed to companies with more than 10 H-1B applications and a greater than 10% denial rate.” USCIS approved approximately 19,000 fewer H-1B petitions in FY 2023 compared to FY 2022. California (19,336) and Texas (17,824) were the top locations for employers with approvals of H-1B petitions for initial employment in FY 2023.