The USCIS has announced that the H-1B visa limit for fiscal year 2025 has been completely reached. The congressionally mandated limit includes 65,000 regular H-1B visas and 20,000 visas under the advanced degree exemption (commonly referred to as the master’s cap).
Key Highlights
- Cap Limit Reached : The H-1B visa program for FY 2025 has hit its cap with enough petitions to meet the limits set by Congress.
- Regular and Advanced Degree Limits : This consists of 65,000 visas for standard applicants and an extra 20,000 for those with advanced degrees from US universities.
- Indian Nationals Dominate : Despite a decline in sponsorships by major US companies, Indian nationals remain the largest group of H-1B visa recipients.
Next Steps for Applicants
USCIS will notify applicants about their visa status through their online accounts on the `myUSCIS` portal. Applicants who are not selected will receive a status update stating: “Not Selected: You are not eligible to submit an H-1B cap petition for this registration.”
Important Dates
– The last date to submit H-1B cap-subject petitions online was June 30, 2024.
– Since this date fell on a Sunday, properly submitted paper petitions received by July 1, 2024, were also accepted.
– The initial registration window, originally scheduled from March 6 to March 17, 2024, was extended until March 25, 2024.
About the H-1B Program
The H-1B visa allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialized fields requiring advanced knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. These fields include :
– Sciences
– Healthcare
– Education
– Biotechnology
– Business
The program also includes fashion models with extraordinary merit and ability.
Decline in Sponsorships by Major Companies
In 2024, leading US companies such as Google, Amazon, Infosys, and IBM reduced their sponsorship of H-1B visas compared to earlier years. Data from USCIS indicates that nearly all of the top 15 H-1B sponsoring firms reduced their approvals during the fiscal year 2024.
Indian Nationals Lead H-1B Visa Recipients
In fiscal year 2023, Indian nationals received an impressive 72.3% of all H-1B visas issued. By comparison, Chinese nationals held 11.7% of these visas.
Exemptions from the Cap
Despite reaching the FY 2025 cap, USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are exempt, such as :
– Renewals for individuals previously counted against the cap.
– Petitions for current H-1B workers who retain their previous cap number.
The H-1B visa remains a crucial pathway for skilled professionals from around the world, especially Indian nationals, despite shifting trends in sponsorship by major US firms.
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