USCIS completes return of unselected H-1B cap petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that it has returned all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in this year’s computer-generated lottery.

Employers are reminded that it may take a week or longer before they receive returned petitions.

USCIS received 199,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions during this year’s filing period. The agency subsequently completed the lottery and began returning unselected petitions May 3.

BAL Analysis: BAL has not yet received all returned petitions or receipts for cases and expects a surge in inquiries to USCIS following today’s announcement. Final word on these cases may be pending for some time. In the meantime, BAL continues to work with employers on possible H-1B visa alternatives for foreign workers who were not selected in the H-1B lottery.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact BerryApplemanLeiden@bal.com.

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