SEVEN THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE H-1B CAP

1.                   These types of cases are subject to the H-1B cap:

• International students working on an EAD card under an OPT or CPT program after having attended a U.S. school;
• International employees working on a TN may need an H-1B filed for them in order for them to pursue a permanent residency (green card) case;
• Prospective international employees in another visa status e.g. H-4, L-2, J-1, F-1;- H-1B workers with a cap exempt organization; and
• Prospective international employees currently living abroad.

2.                   These types of cases that are not subject to H-1B cap:

• H-1B amendments/extensions/transfers
• When the employee has been in H-1B status for less than 6 years
• Trade Visas (H-1B1, E-3, TN-1) Chile, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Mexico
• MDs who have received a J-waiver of their 2 years foreign residency requirement.
• H-1Bs filed by institution of higher education (or its affiliated or related nonprofit entities), a nonprofit research organization, or a government research organization.

3.                   Employees with a U.S. master’s degree or higher get two chances at the H-1B cap.  The USCIS first runs a Masters Cap H-1B lottery to determine 20,000 lottery winners.  All H-1B applicants who lose this lottery are then placed in the general 65,000 H-1B lottery.

4.                   Cap-Gap Rule: USCIS automatically extends the H-1B status of OPT F-1 students who win the H-1B lottery.  The OPT F-1 status is extended through October 1, at which point the status converts to H-1B by operation of law.

5.                   An Employee does not have to hold H-1B status for the employer to initiate green card process. This can be started while the employee is on F-1 or most other statuses.

6.                We do not recommend that F-1 students travel outside the US while their H-1B cap petition is pending at USCIS.  USCIS may consider the petition to be abandoned.  If the F-1 student does travel, the employee is required to apply for an H-1B visa abroad before re-entering the US.

7.                   The employee’s proposed worksite may not change until the H-1B CAP petition is approved.  If the worksite changes the USCIS is inclined to deny the case.  If possible the H-1B cap petition should be upgraded via Premium Processing.  Upon approval of the H-1B, the employer can file an H-1B amendment.