Why so fast? That’s the question heard in “Greek chorus” from employers, job seekers, and kibitzers on learning that the H1B visa quota for fiscal year (FY) 2008 had been reached as of the first day of H1B filing, April 2, 2007.
As you know, H1B is the working visa for professionals of all stripes desirous to work in the United States. This group includes accountants, engineers, programmers, physical therapists, managers, and, yes – perhaps, bloggers, too.
The H1B visas, as discussed in our earlier posting, re: File early- to get a slice of the H1B visa “pie,” have all been scooped up.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on April 3, 2007, released a notice saying that it had received enough H1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap for FY 2008. As of late Monday afternoon (April 2), the USCIS had received approximately 150,000 cap-subject H1B petitions.
So, what does this mean to Caloy and Kulas, our “kababayans” who are still looking for employers willing to petition for them? Well, they’re out of luck. They can’t be petitioned this year. They will have to wait for next year, by April 1, 2008 at the earliest, to avail of the H1B visas for fiscal year 2009.
Hi,
so what are our chances having h1b visa to work in the US firm this year, if ever i was not randomly selected.? I am Filipino and first time applying the said visa through US employer, I had passed exam and several interviewed they conducted in the Phils. According to them they had submitted our application to ucsis last April 2, 2007, just wait for the feedback. Right now i’m currently working in here Singapore and waiting for the h1b from US. Hope to hear advise from you soon.
Thanks
Albert
Dear Albert,
If your H1B visa petition is not selected, then you won’t have the chance to work in the U.S. this year.
Your employer will have to try to submit another H1B visa petition by April next year- by availing the H1B visa quota for fiscal year 2009.
Thanks for your comments.