UNITED STATES – Initiate New H-1B Filings Now for FY 2015!
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will start accepting H-1B cases subject to the annual H-1B cap beginning on Tuesday 1 April 2014 for a 1 October 2014 start date.
H-1B Cap Background
It is important to note that, without immigration reform, the annual limit for H-1B visas will remain at 65,000 for new, cap subject petitions for fiscal year 2014-2015, with an additional 20,000 visas available for individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.
Due to continuing demand for H-1B workers, it is possible that the 2015 H-1B quota will be met with filings within the initial filing window, as occurred last year. Should demand exceed available H-1B quota numbers again, a lottery will be held, where only select filings are adjudicated under the annual statutory quota.
In recent years, during the recent economic downturn, H-1B visa numbers were available further into the year. However, a turn around in hiring trends in 2013 left many employers disappointed as demand far exceeded available quota numbers.
H-1B Cap Exemptions
Many H-1B petitions are exempt from the cap, including those made on behalf of H-1B workers previously counted against the cap.
Action Items
- Initiate any new H-1B petitions with your U.S. immigration attorneys as soon as possible.
