Application for H-1B work visas for fiscal year 2018 can be filed from April 3. The work visas is highly popular among Indian IT companies and professionals. <br/><br/>Unlike previous years, the official announcement by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) did not say till when it would continue accepting the H-1B petitions. <br/><br/>The department normally has been accepting the application for the first five business days.<br/>'<br/>In the last few years, the department has received enough petitions to fill in the Congressional mandated 85,000 H-1B visas.<br/>'<br/>This 85,000 Congressional mandated limit on H-1B visas include 65,000 in the general category and another 20,000 for those foreign students who have masters or higher degree from<br/>a US academic institution.<br/>'<br/>Those coming to the US on H-1B visas in certain categories for research and scientific institutions are exempted from this limit, but their visa processing is handicapped this year as the premium processing has been suspended by USCIS for six months.<br/>'<br/>USCIS's announcement also reflects that there are no changes in H-1B visas this year as was being anticipated in<br/>view of some media leaks of a proposed executive order on this<br/>work visa.<br/>'<br/>White House says this would be part of a comprehensive immigration reform.<br/>In its statement, USCIS said it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3.<br/>'<br/>"All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected," it said. Fiscal year 2018 begins on October 1, 2017.<br/>