The filing period for H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2014 numerical cap begins on April 1,2013. Employees with approved FY2014 H-1B petitions are authorized to begin work in the U.S. on October 1, 2013.
USCIS has made the following announcements regarding the FY2014 H-1B Program:
- USCIS anticipates that it may receive more than 65,000 cap-subject H-1B petitions and more than 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher between April 1, 2013, and April 5, 2013. This could be the first time since April 2008 that the H-1B cap will require a lottery.
- USCIS has temporarily adjusted its current premium processing practice. To facilitate the prioritized data entry of cap-subject petitions requesting premium processing, and in accordance with 8 CFR 103.7(e)(3)(ii), USCIS is announcing that premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions, including H-1B petitions seeking an exemption from the fiscal year cap for individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher, will begin on April 15, 2013.
- Petitioners may file petitions for Premium Processing Service (with fee) either concurrently with the H-1B petition, during the time period that premium processing is unavailable – from April 1 to April 14, 2013, OR choose to upgrade a pending H-1B cap petition to premium processing once a receipt notice is issued.
It is not too late to retain Berardi Immigration Law to assist in the filing of your cap-subject FY2014 H-1B petition. We also remind our clients that Not All H-1B Petitions are Subject to the Annual Cap.
Contact us today to learn more.
More articles regarding the H-1B category can be found here:
What is an H-1B Visa?
The H-1B Category: Timing, Fees and Other Issues
Labor Condition Application is first step in H-1B Process
H-1B Visa: Creation and Maintenance of the Public Access File
H-1B Visa: Unannounced Site Inspections Expected to Increase Five-Fold in 2010
KCC Set to Conduct Unannounced Audit of NIV Petitions
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