April 1, 2009 is the filing deadline for new H-1B petitions to be made under the USCIS H-1B quota (assuming, as in the past, that H-1B quota availability will be immediately exhausted). USCIS may soon announce a longer filing window, as it did last year.
Employers should therefore determine as soon as possible whether they have any new H-1B petitions to be filed under the FY2010 quota (for start dates on or after October 1, 2009). The quota provides for 65,000 H-1B visas and 20,000 additional H-1B visas for individuals who have a masters or higher degree from a U.S. university.
Please contact us if you wish to file a new H-1B petition. We would like to collect all necessary information in February to provide sufficient preparation time.
In your review, please consider the following:
Determine whether you employ any foreign nationals for whom we may not have a record in our office (e.g., F-1 and J-1 students, TN NAFTA professionals, L-1B specialized knowledge transferees).
Determine if there are any individuals you wish to consider for employment beginning October 1, 2009, who require a new H-1B petition.
