FY2010 H-1B Numbers Update (June 12, 2009)

USCIS released updated information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.  As of Friday, June 12, USCIS has received approximately 44,400 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap.   USCIS will continue to accept petitions subject to the general cap.   Additionally, USCIS has received approximately 20,000 petitions for aliens with advanced degrees; however, it will continue to accept advanced degree petitions since experience has shown that not all petitions received are approvable.

The numbers, as of June 12th, indicate that there was a decrease of about 1,300 H-1B regular cap applications counted under the cap for the period between May 26th and June 12th (the number, as of May 26th, was reported to be 45,700.   This decrease most likely reflects petitions which were initially counted under the cap but have been subsequently denied or otherwise removed from the count due to incorrect or duplicate petitions.  As we have indicated in our past H-1B count updates, the rate of new H-1B filings has slowed down substantially over the past several weeks and if the current rate holds steady,  we expect the H-1B cap to remain open for at least few more months.