Projection

TheH-1B cap will be reached this year on its first day of eligibility.  MU Law expects around twice as many H-1Bpetitions as allowed will be filed this year. We are basing this projection on our internal H-1B cap filings, discussionswith other AILA attorneys, our historical experience with H-1B numbers sincethe mid-1990s, and media sources.  Thathaving been said, our projection is not a scientific one.  Indeed, no one knows exactly how many H-1Bswill be received.

TheH-1B cap petitions will be divided into two categories: (1) Those who havegraduated from US Master Degree programs; and (2) all other H1-B cap-subjectpetitions (“regular H-1B cap”).  The USMasters category has a quota of 20,000 H-1B petitions.  The regular H-1B cap has a quota of 65,000H-1B petitions.

Timing

Sinceboth H-1B categories will be oversubscribed, the USCIS will hold an H-1Blottery.  The H-1B lottery will be heldnext week.  Last yearthe H-1B lottery was held April 9, 2013. Although the H-1B lottery will be held next week, the USCISdid not notify all petitioners of the outcome until June 2013.


Ifa petitioner wants know sooner, the H-1B may be filed via the PremiumProcessing Service (PPS).  The PPS does notgive a petitioner any greater chance at winning lottery, but it does allow forspeedier notice and decision-making.