The new H-1B fiscal year begins on October 1, 2015, when U.S. employers can add to their workforce up to 65,000 foreign nationals, plus additional 20,000 foreign nationals with a U.S. master’s or higher degree. In addition, any unused H-1B1 numbers from Chile and Singapore will be added to the regular H-1B visa pool. As the USCIS regulations permit the filing of H-1B petition no more than 180 days before the start date, and since the earliest state date for new H-1B employees would be October 1, 2015, the filing season begins today. Most petitioners had everything ready for mailing on March 31, 2015 (yesterday) for USCIS receipt on April 1, 2015.
Based on prior experience, USCIS expects to receive more petitions than the Congressionally mandated numerical limitations. The agency stated that it would monitor the number of petitions and will announce to the public when the cap has been met.