USCIS announced earlier today that it has finished data entry of all fiscal year 2015 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The federal agency will now start returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in the random lottery. Out of the approximately 172,500 H-1B petitions submitted for this fiscal period, only 65,000 for the general cap and an additional 20,000 for the masters degree exemption cap will receive the H-1B visa for fiscal year 2015. All others will be rejected; applications and submission fees will be returned to rejected petitioners.
USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions filed to:
- Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the United States; Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;
- Allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and
- Allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position.