H1B count

[sony07]

H1B QUOTA UPDATE 4-10-08 AFTERNOON

USCIS just announced a preliminary number of nearly 163,000 H1b applications received between 4/1/08-4/7/08 with more than 31,200 of those petitions being in the advanced degree category. The CIS anticipates conducting the H1b lottery next week. The H1b masters degree lottery will be conducted prior to the general H1b quota lottery.



ALL THE BEST GUYS... GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF US

[olivec]

USCIS Runs Random Selection Process For H-1B Petitions

The USCIS announced that it conducted the H1b lottery for both the H1b US Masters quota and the H1b general quota yesterday. The H1b US Masters degree quota was run first. Any H1b applications filed under the US Masters degree H1b quota that were not chosen were then added to the general H1b quota applications and then the general H1b quota lottery was run. The USCIS had labelled each of the approximately 163,000 H1b applications received with unique numerical identifiers for purposes of the H1b lottery.

The USCIS anticipates that H1b employers will receive H1b receipt notices for all H1b cases that were chosen in the H1b lottery no later than June 2, 2008. Any H1b cases not chosen in the H1b lottery will be returned with the fees to the H1b employer or attorney of record on the case (with the exception of duplicate H1b filing cases in which the USCIS will retain the fees per the new duplicate H1b filing regulation). The CIS has stated that the 'total adjudication process is expected to take approximately eight to ten weeks.'

For any H1b cases filed via premium processing, the 15 day premium processing period began 4/14/08.

The USCIS has 'wait-listed' some H1b petitions, meaning they may possibly replace H1b petitions chosen to receive a FY2009 H1b cap number in the lottery that are subsequently denied, withdrawn, or otherwise found ineligible. The USCIS will retain those H1b petitions until a decision is made whether they will replace a previously selected H1b petition. USCIS will send a letter to the H1b employer for H1b cases chosen to be on the wait list to inform them of the status. The USCIS expects that it will issue a receipt notice or return the H1b petition with fees within six to eight weeks for any wait-listed H1b applications.