On April 9, 2016, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process, or lottery, to select enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for FY2017. USCIS will reject and return all unselected petitions. USCIS received more than 236,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period, and will begin premium processing no later than May 16, 2016.