We know that the 65,000 H1B cap for fiscal year of 2007 was met on 5/26/2006. Petitions received on 5/26 were subjected to a random selection process to determine which cases will be accepted. Now, good news, for those H1B petitions which were not selected in this random selection process. USCIS announced these cases are revitalized on Chile-Singapore leftover H1Bs. How could this happen?
Among the 65000 standard caps, 6,800 are set aside for the H-1B1 program under terms of the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Unused numbers in this pool can first be made available for general use on October 1, 2006, the start of FY 2007.
89 H1B cap subject cases were not selected through the random selection process on 5/20/06. Now, USCIS is going to process these cases. Here are the notice from USCIS:
• A letter will be issued to each petitioner/attorney notifying them that their case will be processed if they submit the appropriate fees.
• The letter will include instructions on mailing the fees to a dedicated mailing address.
• The deadline to respond to the letter will be November 14, 2006.
• Those that have not responded by November 14, 2006, will be contacted by the Vermont Service Center (VSC) via e-mail or phone to determine whether they are interested in pursuing the petition.
• A dedicated e-mail address will be set up for any filing questions pertaining to these cases. This e-mail account will be monitored through the deadline date.
We will post further clarifications about this when it becomes available.