For the third consecutive year, USCIS has reached the congressionally mandated H-1B numerical cap within the first five business days of April - the earliest eligible filing period. As a result, employers are not able to submit any further cap-subject H-1B petitions until April 1, 2016. Under current law, 65,000 H-1B visas are available each fiscal year to individuals who possess a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, and will be working in a related specialty occupation.

USCIS will begin accepting H-1B petition subject to annual numerical quota beginning April 1, 2015. If USCIS receives more than the annual allotment - which is 65,000 for individuals holding a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, and 20,000 for individuals possessing an advanced degree from a qualifying United States university or college - within the first five business days of April, then a lottery system will be utilized to randomly select the cases that will receive a c