Devoted to Corporate Attorneys, Corporate Lawyers, and Corporate Counsel

This is not meant to be legal advice. 

Any employers looking to beat the work permit cap?  On April 1, 2007, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2008 H-1B quota.  It is anticipated by some people that the H-1B quota could be filled as early as the first week in April 2007.  The fiscal year begins on October 1, 2007. 

Employers seeking H-1B permits should consider identifying any current employees and employment candidates who may require H-1B work permit sponsorship before October 1, 2008.

For those not aware, there is an annual limit on the number of H-1B petitions that can be approved during the government’s 2008 fiscal year.  The fiscal year ends September 30, 2008. The H-1B cap for fiscal year 2008 is 65,000.  Of the 65,000, 6,800 are reserved for nationals of Chile and Singapore under Free Trade Agreements with those countries. There is also a quota of 20,000 H-1Bs which are reserved for persons who hold a Master’s degree or higher awarded by a United States college or university.