FY 2009 H1 cap reached !

[DMX17]

Thanks to JyothiReddy.

http://www.immihelp.com/articles/200...p-reached.html

Both caps (advanced degree exemption and general) reached and lottery date TBD.

[txh1b]

I am glad this info is official than from a friend that works for USCIS.

[txh1b]

Before running the random selection process, USCIS will complete initial data entry for all filings received during the filing period ending on April 7, 2008.

Looks like they have a better system than assigning a unique number to each application now. As they claim to complete initial data entry, I am guessing the lottery will be run on people (clubbing multiple H1bs together).

[DMX17]

I am in the mood of you know what..

"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied."

- Claud Cockburn

[DMX17]

Before running the random selection process, USCIS will complete initial data entry for all filings received during the filing period ending on April 7, 2008.

Looks like they have a better system than assigning a unique number to each application now. As they claim to complete initial data entry, I am guessing the lottery will be run on people (clubbing multiple H1bs together).

I, too, think so based on USCIS stating

"USCIS will reject, and return filing fees for all cap-subject petitions not randomly selected, unless found to be a duplicate. USCIS will handle duplicate filings in accordance with the interim final rule published on March 24, 2008 in the Federal Register."

[txh1b]

There is more advantage and lottery becomes fool proof if USCIS does that. I think it is a positive move.

You are close to your seniority rating :-)

[HiBujji]

USCIS Reaches FY 2009 H-1B Cap

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap for fiscal year 2009. USCIS has also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the “advanced degree” exemption. Before running the random selection process, USCIS will complete initial data entry for all filings received during the filing period ending on April 7, 2008. Due to the high number of petitions, USCIS is not yet able to announce the precise day on which it will conduct the random selection process.

USCIS will carry out the computer-generated random selection process for all cap-subject petitions received. USCIS will select the number of petitions needed to meet the caps of 65,000 for the general category and 20,000 under the “advanced degree” exemption limit. USCIS will reject, and return filing fees for all cap-subject petitions not randomly selected, unless found to be a duplicate. USCIS will handle duplicate filings in accordance with the interim final rule published on March 24, 2008 in the Federal Register.

The agency will conduct the selection process for “advanced degree” exemption petitions first. All “advanced degree” petitions not selected will be part of the random selection process for the 65,000 limit.

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http://www.immihelp.com/articles/200...p-reached.html

[love_eternal]

I have a query regarding duplicate H-1Bs filed. I read that USCIS will regard duplicate filings for an employee by the same employer. What about 2 different employers filing H-1Bs for a single employee (the employee gets 2 offers) - is this case also regarded as duplicate filing?

When USCIS does data entry for all applications, would such an employee have 2 entries or 1 entry?

[txh1b]

When USCIS does data entry for all applications, would such an employee have 2 entries or 1 entry?

I am guessing 1 as USCIS is doing data entry before conducting the lottery this year unlike previous years when applications were stuck with a number on top of them.

The process is getting more streamlined. As known to everyone, each person is counted only once in the cap no matter how many applications from different employers are in. This makes sense for USCIS to do data entry before the lottery to take care of the MFs. (Multiple Filers)

[DMX17]

Preliminary numbers released ! Dang !

Prelim numbers are out and lottery sometime next week.

Total: 163,000
Advanced degree: 31,000
General: 132,000

That means the general cap petitions would in the end be ~144,000.
http://www.immihelp.com/articles/200...p-filings.html

[txh1b]

I am disappointed with the numbers. My friend that works for USCIS counted came up with 357983. How is this different? LOL

[DMX17]

I guess the person who counted assumed that there are at least 2 benefiiaries in every packet.

I just saw someone claimed his friend got a receipt for the FY2009 cap-subject H1 and s/he thought he won the lottery. That is classic.

[txh1b]

I heard USCIS did issue some erroneous receipts just like last year.