FY2010 H-1B Numbers Update (July 10, 2009)

USCIS released updated information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.  As of Friday, July 10, USCIS has received approximately 44,900 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 July 10th, indicate that there was a decrease of about 100 H-1B regular cap applications counted under the cap for the period between July 3rd and July 10th (the number, as of July 3rd was reported to be 45,000).   According to USCIS, this decrease is due to removal from the count of H-1B petitions which have either been withdrawn or have been rejected by USCIS.  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.