Thu Dec 05 17:07:35 UTC 2024: ## H-1B Visa Cap Reached: USCIS Announces Lottery, Sends Rejection Notices

**Washington D.C.** – The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received enough H-1B visa petitions to meet the annual cap. This triggers a lottery system to select recipients from the pool of applicants.

The agency will send “Not Selected” notifications to unsuccessful applicants via their online accounts. The 65,000 regular H-1B visas and the additional 20,000 for those with US advanced degrees have been filled. USCIS clarified that the deadline for submissions was extended to July 1st, 2024, due to the June 30th deadline falling on a Sunday.

While the lottery process is underway, USCIS emphasized that it will continue to process petitions that are exempt from the cap. These exemptions include petitions to extend existing H-1B visas, change employment terms, switch employers, or allow concurrent H-1B positions.

The announcement comes amidst a reported decline in H-1B sponsorships from major tech firms like Google, Amazon, Infosys, and IBM. While Indians traditionally comprise the largest percentage of H-1B visa recipients, the recent trends suggest a shift in sponsorship patterns.

USCIS urged applicants to closely monitor their online accounts for notifications and to adhere to all deadlines and instructions. The H-1B visa lottery is a competitive process, and applicants are advised to seek professional guidance if needed.

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