H1B Visa 2013/2014 : April 1 vs October 1

What is the difference between H1B Visa Filing dates on April 1 and October 1? I’m not clear between H1B Deadlines and application filing dates.

In order to understand the H1B Visa application process, you need to know 2 important dates and fiscal year dates.

• April 1
• October 1
• Fiscal Year Time ( or H1B Cap/Quota Season)

H1B Visa – April 1 and October 1

USCIS  will start accepting H1B Visa application from April 1 for the following fiscal year.

• Example – April 1, 2013 for H1B Visa 2013 – 2014 Fiscal Year

Employers can request the H1B start date from maximum of 6 months from date of application.

Which means, H1B Visa application submitted on April 1, 2013 can have start date no further than October 1, 2013.

Typically, H1B application filed on April 1, 2013 will have start date from October 1, 2013.

Next, you have to understand Fiscal Year Time Period.

USCIS Fiscal Year runs from October 1 to September 30 of next year.

• Fiscal Year 2013/2014 = October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014

H1B applications applied in on April 1, 2013  will come under Fiscal year 2014.

H1B Visa 2013 – 2014 Dates

USCIS started accepting applications for FY 2014 from April 1, 2013

When H1B application is approved, start date will be October 1, 2013.

Go here to learn about H1 Visa : Page contains additional information about entire H1B process.

As per USCIS, there could be H1B Visa lottery based on number of applications received by USCIS in first 5 days of April, 2013.

H1B Visa Deadlines : For this year, H1B Visa deadline is April 5, 2013  ( if cap runs out in first 5 days).