Pause Lifted on H-1B Cap Cases
Posted May 08, 2000

In the April 19, 2000 MurthyBulletin, we announced that INS had instituted a "pause" in processing of H-1B cap-subject cases. The Director of Service Center Operations at INS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. announced on April 28, 2000 that the hold has now been lifted. Service Centers have been instructed to process cases filed up to February 18, 2000, in order to enable the California and Vermont Service Centers to catch up to the faster pace at Texas and Nebraska. The above date was chosen for the sole reason that, at the time the "pause" in processing was imposed, the Texas and Nebraska Service Centers had processed cases up to about that date.

There was no word from the INS as to what they intend to do after all February 18, 2000 cases have been processed. (At the present time, the Vermont Service Center appears to be already processing cases close to that date.) INS has not yet issued any word on when the last of the "cap" cases will be approved. The above date is NOT a cut-off date for determining which cases will be approved under the FY2000 cap.

[Editor's Note : (Law Office of Sheela Murthy) Readers of the MurthyBulletin may be surprised that the Vermont Service Center, which was traditionally considered one of the most efficient Service Centers, is now relegated to being one of the slowest Service Centers. On the other hand, the Texas Service Center, which was very slow has picked up its pace considerably, both with respect to H1B Petitions and more so, with respect to I-140 Immigrant Petitions.]