USCIS Announces Most Current H-1B Cap Count

USCIS Announces Most Current H-1B Cap Count

 

According to the USCIS, as of November 20, 2009 approximately 56,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions have been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap (which starts on October 1^st).

 

Therefore, any H-1B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H-1B cap of 65,000. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.

 

With some signs indicating that the U.S. economy is picking up, there's a fairly good chance that H-1B visa numbers will run out again before April 1, 2010 (which is the earliest filing date for new H-1Bs for FY 2011 which starts on October 1, 2010).