H1B VISA 2014 – The Race Begins Today!

H-1B Visa 2014 Applications are officially being accepted from today by the USCIS. The applications are for the Fiscal Year 2014, which starts from October 1st 2013 and ends September 30th 2014.

According to the predictions by the USCIS, huge number of applications is expected to arrive with in the first 5 days from today and it is probably that there would be a necessity for a lottery this fiscal year, just like how the lottery was held or the Fiscal Year 2009. For those who plan to file for H-1B during this fiscal year, it is time to file them as soon as possible within the first 5 days of April 2013.

Check the post on USCIS Update regarding H-1B Petition Acceptance and Premium Processing Dates

H1B Visa 2014 – Premium Processing

USCIS mentions applicants can file under premium processing starting April 1st 2013.  Although, premium processing at the USCIS will start from April 15th 2013. So, if you are filing your H-1B application under premium processing you may likely not hear from the USCIS before April 30th 2013.

H-1B VISA 2014 QUOTA

The current H-1B Visa Cap is 65,000 visa cap each year, with an additional of 20,000 visas dedicated for master’s category applicants.

Check out the H1B Visa 2014 Q&A to learn about the process and procedure.

H-1B SPONSOR

If you are willing to file your H-1B this year, you should have a H-1B sponsor who is willing to file your H-1B. Are you still looking to find your H1B Sponsor?

Check F1-OPT Graduates Career Fair's H1B Sponsor Search Application and find your sponsor.

 H-1B Visa 2014: USCIS Formally Announces on Petition Acceptance and Premium Processing Dates
 USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) announces regarding the H-1B Visa for the Fiscal Year 2014 . The USCIS will be accepting the applications for the H-1B Visa Petitions from the 1stApril of 2013, Monday. The H-1B Visa Premium Processing service for cap-subject petitions would begin from 15th April 2013 as per USCIS.

USCIS Anticipates H-1B Visa 2014 Cap to reach within the first 5 Days from April 1st 2013

USCIS anticipates that they may receive more number of H-1B visa petitions this year, which may exceed the cap between 1st April 2013 and 5th April 2013. USCIS assumes a lottery system might come in place, if the H-1B petitions would exceed the cap.

USCIS Lottery System

The USCIS Lottery System is said to be a Random Selection Process. USCIS conducts a computer generated random selection process to select which H-1B petitions filed would continue to full adjudication. The same process was implemented during the Fiscal Year 2009, when approximately 163,000 petitions were received within the first five days of the eligible period per USCIS.

Premium Processing Starts 15th April 2013

Premium Processing Adjudication starts from 15th April 2013. An H-1B Visa Petition filed and pending can also be upgraded to a premium processing, but only when a receipt notice is issued by the USCIS.  All requests for premium processing received between April 1, 2013, and April 14, 2013, will be adjudicated when premium processing begins on April 15, 2013 as per the USCIS. So, the 15-day processing period will not begin until 15th April 2013. So, even though your H-1B petition was filed on the 1st of April under premium processing and not subject to the cap, you may not expect to receive a decision within 15 days from 15th April 2013.