USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Visa Cap

For the first time since 2008, USCIS has reached the statutory H-1B cap of 65,000 within the first week of the filing period.  USCIS has also received more than 20,0000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the advanced degree exemption.

On 7 April 2013, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process (“lottery”) to select a sufficient number of petitions needed to meet the cap.  For cap-subject petitions not randomly selected, USCIS will reject and return the petition with filing fees.

USCIS began premium processing for H-1B cap cases on 15 April 2013.