USCIS received 233,000 H-1B petitions; visa lottery completed

USCIS announced today (April 13, 2015) that it has completed the computerized random selection process for next year's H-1B program.  The agency first selected 20,000 exempt cases from petitions filed by U.S. advanced degree holders.  The cases not selected are then added to the pool of regular cap cases, from which 65,000 cases are selected (less 6,800 visas which are set aside under the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore free trade agreements).

This year, USCIS received about 233,000 H-1B petitions during the first five days of the filing period.

USCIS expects to begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than May 11, 2015.

Update: USCIS confirmed that premium processing services will begin on April 27, 2015.