H1-B visas back in demand, applications surge

The USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), officially, has not come out on the number of H-1B applications received by it since April 1 when it started accepting petitions for it for the fiscal 2014 beginning October 1, 2013.

According to an estimate provided by FCi Federal, a Virginia-based government services and technology provider, which is supplying personnel to assist the USCIS in processing the H-1B petitions, on the first day it received some 50,000 packages, the Computer World reported.

A package can contain one H-1B application to multiple applications, but based on the past experience, a package on an average contains 1.2 H-1B petitions, the media outlet reported.

The number of packages received fell sharply on the second day, Computer World said.

According to Congressional approved mandate, USCIS can reward a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2014 beginning October 1, 2013.

In addition to the USCIS can also reward 20,000 H-1B visas for those having masters or higher degree from US academic institutions.

This limit on H-1B visas has been in place for more than two decades now.

The USCIS received H-1B petitions at its two centres - the Vermont Service Center and the California Service Center - where its officials described business as usual.

Last month, USCIS had said based on feedback from a number of stakeholders, it anticipates that it may receive more petitions than the H-1B cap between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013.

Amjad khan
pgdm 2nd sem