USCIS starts accepting applications for H-1B Visa 2015 from this April. Here are some FAQ’s which explains the H-1B process and other questions you might have.

H1B Visa 2016 Basics:

When can I file H-1B Visa 2016?

The H-1B quota opens every year on the 1st Of April. The USCIS accepts applications for H-1B, until the quota gets over.

Am I eligible to file H-1B?

To be eligible to file H-1B, your job needs to meet one of the below criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation:

• You may need to hold at least a bachelor’s degree or a higher degree from an accredited university.
• The Job profile for your position at your company needs to require a degree or its equivalent for that position.
• The employer would have to require a degree or its equivalent for that position. If you do not have the necessary degree, but have enough experience equivalent to that position that counts too.

What’s Mandatory?

• You need to be paid at least the minimum or the prevailing wage for your position, in that geographic location.

Can I self apply my H-1B?

It is necessary that your employer needs to file your H-1B. You may not self file your H-1B petition to the USCIS.

What are the H1B 2016 Cap Numbers?

The H-1B Visa has an annual limit called “cap” each fiscal year. The cap limits to 85,000 visas each year . Out of 85,000 visas,  20,000 visas are typically for master’s degree quota. And also , 6800 visas are set aside for Chilean and Singaporeans under H1B1 Category.

To summarize:

• Regular H-1B Quota Cap: 58,200
• Master’s Degree H-1B Quota Cap: 20,000
• H1B1 Quora

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H1B Visa 2016 Application Process:

• Employer Submits LCA to DOL for certification. The employer must apply for and receive DOL (Department of Labor) certification of an LCA (Labor Condition Application).
• Employer Submits Completed Form I-129 to USCIS, along with the DOL-certified LCA.
• USCIS verifies your H-1B petition and makes a decision.
• You or your employer may be asked to provide additional documents or evidences to support your petition.

I am filing in 2015 and why do we say H-1B Visa 2016?

For the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the fiscal year starts from October 1st of each year and ends September 30th.While you are filing your H-1B in 2015, you come under H-1B FY (Fiscal Year) 2016 Category.

Once my H-1B is approved, what’s the H-1B Start Date?

H-1B start date would typically be October 1st of the same year you have petitioned for H-1B and got approved. But if the H-1B quota doesn’t finish until October 1st and if you did apply your H-1B after October 1st, the date mentioned by your employer while filing your H-1B in the LCA (Labor Condition Application) would be counted as the start date to work on H-1B.

What would be the H-1B Period of Stay?

An H-1B non-immigrant may be admitted to stay and work in the United States for up to three years. Your time period may be extended if you apply for an H-1B Extension later.

What is H-1B Premium Processing?

If you would like to know if your H-1B petition is approved or not, you may typically need to wait at least for three months if you go through regular processing. But, H-1B Premium processing would let you know the result of your petition within 2 weeks. You need to pay an additional $1,225 to apply under Premium Processing. Please note that you may change your case from regular processing to premium processing any time while you wait for the result.

What happens once H-1B is approved?

Once your H-1B is approved, your employer will receive I-797 Approval Notice. This notice comprises of the start and end date of your H-1B Petition. You would get an original I-797A / I-797B from your employer and you need to save it, since it is necessary at the time you attend visa interview for your H-1B stamping.

 

H1B Visa 2016 Predictions:

The demand for H1B visa has been increasing in the recent years. Here is the Cap- Filled dates in the recent Years.

H1B Cap Filled Dates
Fiscal Year	Regualar Cap Filed Date	Advanced Degree  Cap Filled Date
FY 2015	First Week of April. Lottery Conducted	First Week of April. Lottery Conducted
FY 2014	First Week of April. Lottery Conducted	First Week of April. Lottery Conducted
FY 2013	June 11, 2012	June 07,2012
FY 2012	Nov 22, 2011	Oct 19,2011

There will be huge demand for H1B visas in 2016 for the following reasons

• The job market has been improving since last 2 years. So, there will be huge demand for visas in 2016.
• Since there was a lottery in the last 2 years, those who didn`t get selected will apply again in 2016.
• Due to the Restrictions on B1 and L1 visas since past year, Companies will be interested to file a H-1B instead of B1 and L1 visas.

Prediction: We expect that the H1B visas will be filled in the 1st week of April , 2016 and there will be a lottery again.

Here are H1B visa 2016 Articles:

• H1B Visa 2016 Timelines and Planning