Beginning April 2, 2012, employers may file petitions for H-1B visas on behalf of foreign nationals who are employed in specialty occupations that require the application of highly specialized knowledge and completion of a Bachelor’s degree or higher in the specialty occupation, for start work dates of October 1, 2012 (the beginning of fiscal year 2013) (“FY2013”), or later. The annual cap on H-1B visas is 65,000 (6,800 additional H-1B visas are reserved for citizens of Chile and Singapore pursuant to treaty obligations, for a total cap of 65,000 visas annually). Notably, the annual visa cap does not apply to H-1B visa transfers or extensions, or to foreign nationals working for educational or non-profit research organizations that are exempt from the cap. Read more
