USCIS expects to receive more than 85,000 new cap-subject H-1Bs petitions during the first 5 business days in April. This will result in a random lottery of the petitions received. First the master’s and then the regular cap.
If there are more than 20,000 “master’s cap” petitions filed, USCIS will conduct a random computer selection from those petitions for the 20,000 exemptions. Any petitions not selected for the master’s cap will then be included in the random selection for the 65,000 regular cap.
USCIS will temporarily adjust its premium processing practice for these filings. USCIS will begin premium processing no later than 5/16/16.