Reminder: USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2018 Beginning April 1, 2017

On April 1, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2018 cap. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering, and computer programming.

The congressionally mandated cap on H-1B visas for FY 2018 is 65,000. The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the 65,000 cap.

Deutsch, Killea and Eapen, Immigration Law Firm, recommends that employers or workers contact one of our attorneys immediately if interested in filing an H-1B petition. H-1B petitions must be filed during the first five business days in April.