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This timeline covers the history of the {{w|H-1B visa}} and associated work status. The timeline incorporates some content from {{w|H-1B visa#Changes to legal and administrative rules}} and {{w|Premium Processing Service#Pre-announced delays for processing cap-subject petitions}}. Although much of the copied content was added by the author of the current Timelines wiki page, it also incorporates edits from others. The original content was released under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License (CC-BY-SA), so this page inherits this license.
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| 2017 || March 3 || INS/USCIS guidance || Temporary Suspension of H-1B Premium Processing || USCIS || Premium Processing Service no longer available, so that fee component does not apply || No change || No change || Premium Processing Service no longer applies, so all petitions are processed in the order they are received (see {{w|USCIS processing times}} for more).<ref name=uscis-h-1b-pps-suspension>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-will-temporarily-suspend-premium-processing-all-h-1b-petitions|title = USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions|date = March 3, 2017|accessdate = March 4, 2017|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/world/uscis-to-suspend-premium-processing-service-for-h-1b-visas-from-april-3-as-h-1b-reform-bill-introduced-in-congress-4553812/|title = USCIS to suspend Premium Processing Service for H-1B visas from April 3|publisher = ''Indian Express''|date = March 3, 2017|accessdate = March 4, 2017}}</ref> Petitioners can still make discretionary expedite requests subject to the usual constraints on such requests.<ref name=uscis-h-1b-pps-suspension/><ref name=expedite-criteria>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria|title = Expedite Criteria|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services|accessdate = March 4, 2017}}</ref> || The suspension of Premium Processing is believed to be related to work under President Donald Trump to change the regulations and procedures surrounding immigration, as well as legislation under discussion that would alter the working of the H-1B program.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/14810830/us-immigration-trump-h-1b-visa-processing-wait-times|title = US to suspend fast processing of H-1B visas for high-skilled workers|last = Statt|first = Nick|date = March 3, 2017|accessdate = March 4, 2017|publisher = ''The Verge''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/04/us/h1b-visa-premium-processing-suspended/|title = US suspends expedited processing of H-1B visas |last = Karimi|first = Faith|date = March 4, 2017|accessdate = March 4, 2017|publisher = ''[[CNN]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/03/us-suspends-premium-processing-for-h-1b-visas/|title = US suspends 'premium processing' for H-1B visas. Heavily used by tech companies like Microsoft and Facebook, it let applicants receive an answer faster for a fee.|last = Lawler|first = Richard|date = March 3, 2017|accessdate = March 4, 2017|publisher = ''Engadget''}}</ref>
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| 2020 || || INS/USCIS guidance || H-1B Electronic Registration Process || USCIS || Starting with Fiscal Year 2021, USCIS moves its lottery system to ''before'' the filing of petitions. Between March 1 and March 20, prospective petitioners (known as "registrants") must file an online application with USCIS, including basic information on the petition. All registrants who apply within this timeframe would then go through the lottery process, with registrants learning by March 31 whether they were selected. Selected registrants may file H-1B petitions by June 30.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/h-1b-electronic-registration-process|title = H-1B Electronic Registration Process|accessdate = April 21, 2020|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services}}</ref><ref name=shrm-h-1b-lottery-changes>{{cite web|url = https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/pages/2020-h1b-visa-filing-process-has-changed.aspx|title = The H-1B Visa Filing Process Has Changed. Here’s What You Need to Know. Changes meant to ease the process may boost number of visa applicants, experts say|date = February 5, 2020|last = Maurer|first = Roy|accessdate = April 21, 2020}}</ref>
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== H-1B annual cycle dates ==
=== Data Fiscal Year 2021 onward === Fiscal Year 2021 was the first year that the USCIS moved its lottery selection to before the start date of filing.<ref name=shrm-h-1b-lottery-changes/> We'll make a table here once we have at least two years of data on the new lottery system, as we'll have a clearer idea then what dates can vary year-over-year. Due to the {{w|2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States}}, the USCIS announced on March 20, 2020 that Premium Processing Service would be suspended for all petitions (for both Form I-129 and I-140) effective immediately, and any requests not already accepted would be returned, along with the payment being returned. Already submitted requests for Premium Processing would be refunded if the USCIS failed to take action on the case within the promised 15-day period.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/uscis-announces-temporary-suspension-premium-processing-all-i-129-and-i-140-petitions-due-coronavirus-pandemic|title = USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for All I-129 and I-140 Petitions Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic|date = March 20, 2020|accessdate = March 28, 2020|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services}}</ref> This follows a previous announcement of temporary suspension of Premium Processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions for Fiscal Year 2021, with the earliest possible date of resumption of Premium Processing for that category being June 29, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-announces-temporary-suspension-premium-processing-fy2021-cap-subject-petitions|title = USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for FY2021 Cap-Subject Petitions|date = March 16, 2020|accessdate = March 28, 2020|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services}}</ref> === Data Fiscal Year 2006 onward to Fiscal Year 2020 (after the H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004; no major legislative changes) ===
The annual caps for H-1B (65,000 regular cap-subject, 20,000 for people with U.S. Masters degrees) apply every Fiscal Year. A Fiscal Year begins on October 1 of the previous calendar year and ends on September 30 of the same calendar. For instance, Fiscal Year 2004 is from October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004.
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| Fiscal Year 2019 (begins October 1, 2018) || N/A (Premium Processing suspended) || N/A (Premium Processing suspended) || April 2, 2018<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-will-temporarily-suspend-premium-processing-fiscal-year-2019-h-1b-cap-petitions|title = USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions|date = March 20, 2018|accessdate = December 27, 2018|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services}}</ref> || April 6, 2018<ref name=fy-19-cap-reached>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-reaches-fy-2019-h-1b-cap|title = USCIS Reaches FY 2019 H-1B Cap|date = April 6, 2018|accessdate = December 27, 2018|publisher = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services}}</ref> || April 6, 2018<ref name=fy-19-cap-reached/> || Yes<ref name=fy-18-cap-reached/>
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|Fiscal Year 2020 (begins October 1, 2019) || March 19, 2019<ref name=fy-20-h-1b-announcement>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-fy-2020-h-1b-cap-season-start-updates-and-changes|titlee = USCIS Announces FY 2020 H-1B Cap Season Start, Updates, and Changes|publisher = [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]|date = March 19, 2019|accessdate = January 25, 2020}}</ref> || May 20, 2019 for cap-subject change of status petitions;<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/premium-processing-begins-certain-cap-subject-h-1b-petitions-may-20|title = Premium Processing Begins for Certain Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions on May 20|publisher = [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]|date = March 29, 2019|accessdate = January 25, 2020}}</ref> June 10, 2019 for other cap-subject petitions (precise date announced June 7, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/premium-processing-begins-remaining-h-1b-cap-subject-petitions-june-10|title = Premium Processing Begins for Remaining H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions on June 10|publisher = [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]|date = June 7, 2019|accessdate = January 25, 2020}}</ref> || April 1, 2019<ref name=fy-20-h-1b-announcement/> || April 5, 2019<ref name=fy-20-cap-reached>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-reaches-fy-2020-h-1b-regular-cap|title = USCIS Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap|date = April 5, 2019|accessdate = January 25, 2020|publisher = [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]}}</ref> || April 5, 2019<ref name=fy-20-cap-reached/> || Yes
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