
At a glance
- USCIS has begun issuing notifications to petitioners selected in the FY 2018 H-2B cap lottery.
- Receipting of H-2B cap cases is expected to continue for at least several more days.
- USCIS will soon begin to return unselected cases and fee checks to petitioners, but has not identified a time frame for returns.
The situation
On June 11, 2018, USCIS began notifying certain H-2B petitioners that they were selected in the FY 2018 H-2B cap lottery, according to an agency announcement issued today. USCIS ran the lottery on June 7, 2018. Receipting should continue for at least several days.
USCIS will soon begin to return unselected cases and fee checks to employers, but has not identified a time frame for returns.
What’s next for receipted H-2B cap cases
USCIS will now adjudicate the 15,000 cases selected in the FY 2018 cap lottery. Petitions accepted for processing will reflect the receipt date of June 11, 2018. Premium processing service for these petitions will also begin June 11, 2018.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
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