USCIS has announced that the annual limit for Fiscal Year 2015 H-1B employment has been met. The agency has received more than enough petitions to use up the standard H-1B cap of 65,000 and the cap exemption of 20,000 for foreign nationals holding U.S. advanced degrees. USCIS will continue to accept cap filings today, but will reject any filings received April 8 or later. After today, USCIS will not accept cap-subject H-1B petitions until April 1, 2015.
To choose the FY 2015 cases that will be processed to completion, USCIS will run two lotteries. The first will select enough cases to meet the exemption of 20,000 for holders of U.S. advanced degrees. The second lottery chooses from all remaining cases, including those not selected in the advanced-degree lottery, to draw enough filings to fill the standard quota of 65,000.
Because of the large number of cap filings, USCIS has not specified when it will complete initial case intake and run the lotteries. As such, it could take several days or weeks for the agency to issue filing receipts and announce the total number of cap filings. USCIS is set to begin premium processing for FY 2015 cap cases no later than April 28.
Last year, some 124,000 H-1B cap petitions were filed and roughly 62.5 percent of the standard cap cases received were chosen in the lottery. This year, the volume of H-1B cap petitions is expected to be much higher and the likelihood of selection in the lotteries consequently lower.
What This Means for Employers
Employers should be prepared to wait several weeks to learn whether their cases were accepted in the H-1B cap lotteries. If any of your organization’s cap filings are not chosen, your Fragomen professional can assist in identifying alternatives for affected employees.
Explore more at Fragomen
Work authorization
Senior Associate Tugba Ozyakup and Senior Immigration Manager Andreia Ghimis explore how the EU’s Entry/Exit System is reshaping Schengen overstay enforcement, the risks facing travellers and employers and the legal remedies available to challenge or prevent adverse outcomes.
Video
Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster and Senior Manager Sergio Flores discuss Canada’s entry requirements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including visa-required and visa-exempt nationals, visitor entry rules and key planning considerations for fans, teams, media and volunteers.
Media mentions
Partner Kevin Miner discusses the DOL’s proposed H-1B wage rule and its potential to add significant unplanned costs for US employers.
Media mentions
Video
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler highlights key pathways to German citizenship, including descent-based eligibility and standard naturalization requirements and outlines important considerations for individuals exploring their options.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Louise Senior outlines key compliance considerations for UK hospitality sponsors as regulatory expectations continue to evolve.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler said proposed H-1B and PERM wage increases could raise hiring costs and apply only to new and pending applications.
Work authorization
UK Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit explores the latest UK immigration fee increases and their wider implications for migration trends, labour supply and workforce planning.
Video
Partner Karine Wenger outlines US visa considerations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the FIFA Pass priority scheduling system and the importance of early planning.
Media mentions
Video
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler highlights key considerations for managing outbound assignments from Germany, including planning, visa requirements and coordinated global support.
Video
Partner Jack Kim discusses one of many immigration pathways for staying in Canada post-graduation, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Work authorization
Senior Associate Tugba Ozyakup and Senior Immigration Manager Andreia Ghimis explore how the EU’s Entry/Exit System is reshaping Schengen overstay enforcement, the risks facing travellers and employers and the legal remedies available to challenge or prevent adverse outcomes.
Video
Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster and Senior Manager Sergio Flores discuss Canada’s entry requirements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including visa-required and visa-exempt nationals, visitor entry rules and key planning considerations for fans, teams, media and volunteers.
Media mentions
Partner Kevin Miner discusses the DOL’s proposed H-1B wage rule and its potential to add significant unplanned costs for US employers.
Media mentions
Video
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler highlights key pathways to German citizenship, including descent-based eligibility and standard naturalization requirements and outlines important considerations for individuals exploring their options.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Louise Senior outlines key compliance considerations for UK hospitality sponsors as regulatory expectations continue to evolve.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler said proposed H-1B and PERM wage increases could raise hiring costs and apply only to new and pending applications.
Work authorization
UK Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit explores the latest UK immigration fee increases and their wider implications for migration trends, labour supply and workforce planning.
Video
Partner Karine Wenger outlines US visa considerations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the FIFA Pass priority scheduling system and the importance of early planning.
Media mentions
Video
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler highlights key considerations for managing outbound assignments from Germany, including planning, visa requirements and coordinated global support.
Video
Partner Jack Kim discusses one of many immigration pathways for staying in Canada post-graduation, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).