Another Short H-1B Season: Cap Expected To Be Reached By April 7

In light of the upcoming H-1B filing madness season, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will start accepting FY 2015 H-1B petitions beginning April 1, as usual. However, it also noted that it anticipates receiving enough number of H-1B petitions to reach both master's and general H-1B caps within one week. This will be the second time since 2008 (FY 2009) that the H-1B cap will be exhausted within the first week of availability.  Last year, approximately 124,000 H-1B petitions were received by USCIS within 5 days (https://plus.google.com/+LokeWalsh/posts/Bu3xXV3CQAk).

USCIS also announced that it will begin premium processing of cap-subject petitions by April 28.

"Due to the high level of premium processing receipts anticipated, combined with the possibility that the H-1B cap will be met in the first 5 business days of the filing season, USCIS has temporarily adjusted its current premium processing practice. To facilitate the prioritized intake of cap-subject petitions requesting premium processing, USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than April 28, 2014."

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