• 20 March 2017

 The news media in the United States has evolved more into commentary, speculation, and opinion than the dissemination of factual material. This approach makes it difficult for the general public to understand the reality of many stories. Because there has been so much commentary, speculation, and opinion about recent and impending changes in the H-1B Visa Program, we believe it is our obligation to report the facts directly from the source.

All information is sourced directly from material posted on the USCIS website. Each link will take you to the page on which that particular item is posted.

  1. “The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.  H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as science, engineering and information technology.” - USCIS
  2. “Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. This suspension may last up to 6 months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification.” – USCIS
  3. The USCIS “will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3, 2017. All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected.” - USCIS
    1. “Congress set a cap of 65,000 H-1B visas per fiscal year.” - USCIS
    2. “An advanced degree exemption from the H-1B cap is available for 20,000 beneficiaries who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher.” – USCIS
  4. The USCIS has published a checklist for H-1B petitioners to follow and to avoid confusion.

 The USCIS has NOT scrapped or discontinued the H-1B Visa Program, despite reports that it has or speculation that it will. We urge our readers and clients to follow exclusively the information about H-1B or any other U.S visa programs posted on the USCIS website. If readers may have questions, please direct them to our staff at American Corporate Services, Inc., your single-source, full-service agency for immigration information and services.

 Our pledge of integrity means that we will share the facts and the truth without bias or speculation.