H-1B Cap Notifications On The Way

As of May 3, 2017, USCIS has just completed data entry for H-1B cap cases received last month. All receipt notices and rejected petitions are now being sent. Based on experience from past years, it could take weeks for all notifications to be sent.

We have received many calls asking if all hope is gone for H-1B lottery selection. This announcement makes it clear that the answer is No, Hope is Not Lost! As in past years, the data entry, mailing and notification process takes time (weeks, even a month or two). Just because you've heard of others who have received receipt notices, or even rejected petitions, that does not mean all notifications have been sent. USCIS only completed data entry two days ago - the time for processing receipts and rejection notices, and then mailing out all those notices, takes time. 

We will not know the status of your case, and will not have a case number, until a receipt notice or rejection notice is received. As stated in its announcement "Due to the high volume of filings, USCIS is unable to provide a definite time frame for returning these petitions. USCIS asks petitioners not to inquire about the status of submitted cap-subject petitions until they receive a receipt notice or an unselected petition is returned. USCIS will issue an announcement once all the unselected petitions have been returned."

We will keep you updated as new announcements are released!

H-1B Cap Exceeded, Even With Reduced Filings

Although the number of H-1B filings was down for this year's cap, the cap was greatly exceeded and a lottery selection has been made. Of the 199,000 petitions submitted, approximately 85,000 H-1Bs will be granted. 

Receipt notices are being sent for those lucky enough to have made the lottery, with rejection packages expected soon thereafter. In past years, the notifications have taken weeks to send out, even up to a couple of months.

Compared to prior years, the number of submissions this year was down. Last year, 236,000 petitions were submitted for the H-1B cap, and 233,000 the year before. Even with the drop to 199,000 this year, this still leaves applicants with about a 50/50 chance to make the lottery. And not all cases selected in the lottery will be approved. USCIS accepts more than 85,000 petitions based on an algorithm predicting the number of cases it expects to deny.  

The USCIS announcement regarding the H-1B lottery selection is available here: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-completes-h-1b-cap-random-selection-process-fy-2018