In a significant development for immigration, the United States has reached the annual cap for H-1B visas, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This milestone has far-reaching implications for businesses in the country and foreign workers seeking specialized occupations.

The USCIS has confirmed that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the regular cap of 65,000 visas and the master's cap set at 20,000. As a result, the allocated H-1B visas for fiscal year 2024 have been depleted.

For those who submitted registrations but were not selected, the USCIS will issue non-selection notices through online accounts, indicating that they are ineligible to file an H-1B cap petition for this registration.

However, the USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are exempt from the cap. This includes petitions for current H-1B workers who still retain their cap number. These petitions serve various purposes such as extending their stay duration, changing employment terms, facilitating employer changes, and allowing concurrent work in additional H-1B positions.

"We will send non-selection notices to registrants through their online accounts over the next few days," emphasized the USCIS.

To determine whether an H-1B petition falls under the cap, the USCIS evaluates information gathered during the electronic registration process. The cap consists of the usual 65,000 H-1B visas and an exemption for advanced degree holders until they surpass 20,000. The annual regular cap for the H-1B category is set at 65,000, with an additional 6,800 reserved for the H-1B1 program under the US-Chile and US-Singapore free trade agreements. Any unused visas in this category become available for the next fiscal year's regular H-1B cap.

This development has significant implications for US businesses that rely on the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations. With the cap reached, businesses may face challenges in recruiting and retaining the talent they need to drive innovation and growth.

Foreign workers seeking employment opportunities in the US will also be impacted by the depleted H-1B visa cap. Those who were not selected in the recent registration process will face delays or will need to explore other avenues to secure temporary work authorization in the country.

The exhaustion of the H-1B visa cap for 2024 underscores the ongoing debate surrounding US immigration policies and the demand for skilled foreign workers in the country. It highlights the need for potential reforms to the H-1B program to address the growing demands of businesses and the aspirations of foreign workers.

As the USCIS continues to process petitions exempt from the cap, businesses and foreign workers will closely monitor any updates or potential changes that could affect their future prospects in the US job market.

Disclaimer: The above article is based on the information disclosed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the exhaustion of the H-1B visa cap for fiscal year 2024. Any additional information or updates may alter the context or impact of this news.