With the H-1B filing season wrapping up, USCIS has implemented a data hub for H-1B employers. The new database is intended to provide information to the general public on companies submitting H-1B petitions for foreign workers. This is part of the government’s efforts to increase transparency in employment-based nonimmigrant visa programs. The database would allow searches for H-1B employers by fiscal year, going back to FY 2009, and using employer’s industry, name, city, state, or ZIP code in searches. This will provide an opportunity to calculate approval and denial rates and to determine which employers are sponsoring H-1B workers.
The H-1B filings acceptance for this year’s lottery is coming to an end and USCIS should start the lottery selection shortly. USCIS plans to begin premium processing for FY2020 cap subject H-1B petitions on May 20, 2019, but only for the H 1B petitioners requesting a change of status. Premium processing for all other FY2020 cap-subject H 1B petitions will not begin until at least June 2019. Also, USCIS does not intend to use prepaid mailing envelopes to send out notices for the cap-subject H 1B petitions requesting a change of status filed via Premium Processing and will use regular mail only.