From the USCIS, April 8, 2013, 3 pm EST.
On Monday, April 8, 2013, the USCIS announced that approximately 124,000 H-1B petitions were received for the 2014 (FY) H-1B Cap. This number includes petitions filed under the advanced degree cap.
According to the USCIS, on April 7, 2013, the service used a computer-generated random selection process (commonly known as a “lottery”) to select a sufficient number of petitions needed to meet the caps of 65,000 for the general category and 20,000 under the advanced degree exemption limit. For cap-subject petitions not randomly selected, USCIS will reject and return the petition with filing fees, unless it is found to be a duplicate filing.
The agency conducted the selection process for advanced degree exemption petitions first. All advanced degree petitions not selected were part of the random selection process for the 65,000 limit.
We will continue to update you once the USCIS announces when filing receipts will be issued and when non-selected cases will be returned.