UNITED STATES: Plan Now for the 1st April 2016 Deadline for H-1B Filings

Why is this Significant?

It is important not to wait until the last minute to file petitions for this visa type. The demand for H-1B visas currently exceeds the number of available visas, and USCIS exhausted its supply within days of the 1st April deadline in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

With no further reforms in sight, USCIS may only approve 65,000 new H-1B petitions per fiscal year (the “cap”) with an additional 20,000 set aside available each fiscal year for individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.

What is the H-1B Visa?

H-1B visas are the most common temporary work permits available to foreign national professionals. They are obtained routinely by U.S. corporations and other organisations that require foreign professional workers.

A U.S. employer can file an H-1B petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of a foreign employee provided that the job requires (and the employee possesses) at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a particular field.

An H-1B employer also must attest to paying the same salary and benefits packages normally offered U.S. workers in similar positions and to observing the H-1B program’s specific public notice and recordkeeping requirements.

Timeline for H-1B Petitions

Petitions for new H-1B visas must be received within 5 days of the 1st April deadline in order to be considered for approval. Workers benefiting from approved petitions may start work on 1st October of the same year.

H-1B Cap Exceptions

Note that there are certain exceptions to the cap, as well as other visa options that may be available to employers to facilitate their staffing needs.

Action Items

• Start planning staffing for 2016, to ensure timely filing of your petitions and to review all options.

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