U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services announced the completion of its H-1B selection process using its computer-generated random selection, or lottery selection, to reach the FY 2016 cap.

USCIS received almost 233,000 H1-B petitions during the first week of filing, which began April 1. The first 20,000 petitions for advanced degree exemption were chosen using a random selection process, and the remaining unselected advanced degree petitions were added to the second lottery, which includes all (non-advanced degree) petitions, to fill the 65,000 general H-1B cap.

USCIS will return all unselected petitions along with their filing fees to the rejected petitioners. Duplicate filing will not be considered and filing fees will be withheld. USCIS will begin premium processing for H1-B petitions no later than May 11, 2015.

USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions filed to:

• Extend current H-1B worker work permit;
• Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;
• Change employers for current H-1B workers; and
• Allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position.

If you filed for an H-1B visa for FY2016, wait for your acceptance number and hope your package does not return.