United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is going to start receiving H-1B visa applications for the fiscal year 2011 cap from April 1, this running year. This is that visa category that allows United States employers to employ overseas workers with higher level of skills in specialty occupations. In order to be eligible to be issued with an H-1B visa, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree or higher, along with a job offer from an US employer.

A few highlights of the USCIS’ H-1B petition cap for 2011 in brief:

USCIS will be receiving H-1B petitions for next year from April 1, 2010.
The limitation for the H-1B petition cap for the year is 65,000 for general category.
The limitation for US advanced degree is 20,000.
If required, USCIS may also perform lottery in order to achieve the required number of petitions.
Organizations exempt from the 2011 H-1B cap include non-profit and government establishments; and higher education institutions.

So, from 1st of April this year, the USCIS will accept applications for the 65,000 H-1B visas for 2011. Out of the total, 20,000 applications in favor of the people who have higher degrees, earned in the United States, such as Master’s degree are exonerated from the cap. In addition, people working for research establishments, including governmental and other non-profit; and education institutions for higher study are also exempt.

It is utmost essential that the H-1B petitioners to follow the USCIS’ regulatory requirements while filing the petitions in order to avoid delays and other unfortunate situations. Because, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will consider those cases as ‘acceptable’ based on the date that it takes possession of a properly filled petition, along with the correct fee. It will not consider a petition on the basis of the date the petition is postmarked.

For detailed information on how to file a H-1B visa petition, visit the official website of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.