<p>The US has started accepting petition for the much sought H-1B work visas, amidst fear from industry experts and officials that the Congressional mandated quota of 65,000 might get filled up in the first week itself.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Officials said the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would not issue daily update on number of applications received, but will make an announcement when the cap is reached.<br /><br />According to Congressional approved mandate, USCIS can reward a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2014 beginning October 1, 2013.<br /><br />In addition, the USCIS can also reward 20,000 H-1B visas for those having masters or higher degree from US academic institutions. This limit on H-1B visas has been in place for more than two decades now.<br /><br />The USCIS received H-1B petitions at its two centers -- the Vermont Service Center and the California Service Center - where its officials described business as usual.<br /><br />Last week, USCIS had said based on feedback from a number of stakeholders, it anticipates that it may receive more petitions than the H-1B cap between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013.<br /><br />As such if USCIS receives more petitions than it can accept, it will use a lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to reach the numerical limit, the federal agency said.<br /><br />The lottery for the H-1B cap was last used in April 2008, when the cap was filled on the first day itself.<br /><br />In 2012, it took 73 days for the USCIS to fill in the cap, while in took 235 days to receive applications to fill the 65,000 H-1B numbers in 2011; 300 days in 2010, and 264 days in 2009. In 2008 and 2007 the caps were reached in the first few days.</p>
<p>The US has started accepting petition for the much sought H-1B work visas, amidst fear from industry experts and officials that the Congressional mandated quota of 65,000 might get filled up in the first week itself.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Officials said the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would not issue daily update on number of applications received, but will make an announcement when the cap is reached.<br /><br />According to Congressional approved mandate, USCIS can reward a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2014 beginning October 1, 2013.<br /><br />In addition, the USCIS can also reward 20,000 H-1B visas for those having masters or higher degree from US academic institutions. This limit on H-1B visas has been in place for more than two decades now.<br /><br />The USCIS received H-1B petitions at its two centers -- the Vermont Service Center and the California Service Center - where its officials described business as usual.<br /><br />Last week, USCIS had said based on feedback from a number of stakeholders, it anticipates that it may receive more petitions than the H-1B cap between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013.<br /><br />As such if USCIS receives more petitions than it can accept, it will use a lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to reach the numerical limit, the federal agency said.<br /><br />The lottery for the H-1B cap was last used in April 2008, when the cap was filled on the first day itself.<br /><br />In 2012, it took 73 days for the USCIS to fill in the cap, while in took 235 days to receive applications to fill the 65,000 H-1B numbers in 2011; 300 days in 2010, and 264 days in 2009. In 2008 and 2007 the caps were reached in the first few days.</p>