In a significant development, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that the annual cap for H-1B visas has been reached for the fiscal year 2024. This program, crucial for U.S. businesses, enables them to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations.
The USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions to fulfill both the regular cap of 65,000 and the advanced degree exemption of 20,000. This exhaustion of allotted H-1B visas will impact businesses and foreign workers seeking entry into the U.S.
For those not selected, the USCIS will issue non-selection notices through online accounts, indicating ‘Not Selected’ and rendering them ineligible to file an H-1B cap petition for this registration.8
While the cap has been reached, the USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions exempt from the cap, including those for current H-1B workers retaining their cap number. These petitions cover various purposes, such as extending stay duration, changing employment terms, facilitating employer changes, and allowing concurrent work in additional H-1B positions.
“We will send non-selection notices to registrants through their online accounts over the next few days,” emphasized the USCIS.
This development prompts businesses and foreign workers to reassess their plans for the coming year, considering the impact of the capped H-1B visa availability.
Stay tuned for more updates on immigration and visa policies.
