On April 9, 2016, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process, or lottery, to select enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for FY2017. USCIS will reject and return all unselected petitions. USCIS received more than 236,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period, and will begin premium processing no later than May 16, 2016. In this AILA Leadership Blog post, AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson describes how the H-1B process needs to change, and explains that a "system that is responsive to the needs of employers by giving them the ability to fill positions quickly, while also protecting workers from exploitation and abuse, is a clear win-win for everyone.
