USCIS will begin accepting H-1B visa petitions on April 1, 2013 pursuant to its Fiscal Year 2014 (FY2014) quota.   By law, the earliest starting employment date for petitions approved under the FY2014 H-1B cap is October 1, 2013.  Usually, the cap is filled before the start date, so all employers need to plan properly.  In 2012 the H-1B cap was reached on June 11, 2012;  rumors are that the cap will be reached well before that date in 2013.  Much depends on the state of the economy and employers’ need for skilled labor.