USCIS will start accepting H1B Visa petitions on April 2, 2012, for H1B Visa fiscal year 2013. The first permissible work start date is October 1, 2012. H-1B (professional) visas are subject to an annual quota of 65,000 visas worldwide (out of which 6,800 are allocated to Chile and Singapore). Historically the quota has been woefully short of demand, but in the last 3 years, the recessed economy in the US and elsewhere and increased outsourcing–particularly in technology–has slowed the uptake dramatically, and the quota has been lasting for around 8 months each year. There’s no way to predict how long the quota will last this year, so it’s best to get in early to avoid missing the cut and potentially save an expedite fee of $1225.
If you are interested in obtaining a H1B or would like further information, please contact us here.
