H-1B “Numbers Cap” Not Going to Be Reached Soon

The H-1B “season” has begun!  On April 1, 2010, the USCIS began accepting H-1B applications for the 2011 Fiscal Year, which begins on October 1, 2010.  Fortunately, as many of us predicted, in contrast to years past, the 65,000 H-1B “numbers” were not exhausted on the first day, and will probably remain available for awhile to come. 

According to the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association, at a meeting held on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, the USCIS’s Vermont Service Center (which receives cases for Petitioners located on the East Coast) reported that, as of close of business on Monday, April 5, 2010, it had received a total of 9,525 cap-subject H-1B petitions towards the total of 65,000 alotted spaces. Of those petitions, 6,791 were “regular” cap, and 2,734 were for candidates who possess a US advanced degree.

Please note that the numbers quoted above do not include the USCIS California Service Center’s intake, which processes applications for Petitioners located on the West Coast, which has not yet been made available.

We will continue to update you as these figures are made available.