On April 2, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the annual
quota for fiscal year 2019 (FY 2019). As in recent years, FY
2019’s filing window will likely only be one week in
duration.
March 30, 2018, will be the first day on which employers can
mail FY 2019 cap petitions. Employers’ March 30 mailings can
arrive at USCIS on April 2, 2018—the first day of the filing
period.
What Employers Can Do to Prepare
Identify Employees. As the filing window approaches,
employers may want to identify current and future employees who may
require new H-1B visas to work in the United States.
Prepare Early. The number of cap-subject H-1B petitions
that will be filed by employers for FY 2019 is unknown. As a
result, employers should consider taking action early to initiate
cap-subject H-1B petitions. This will ensure sufficient time to
prepare and file all petitions before the filing window closes.
Mailing
