FY2010 H-1B Numbers Update (August 14, 2009)

USCIS released updated information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.  As of Friday, August 14, USCIS has received approximately 45,000 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.

Rate of New Applications
The numbers, as of August 14th, indicate that there was a very slight increase (of about 100 H-1B new petitions) in the number of H-1B petitions, compared to July 24, 2009.    Furthermore, according to a Vermont Service Center (”VSC”) recent communication dated August 20, 2009, VSC is receiving between 1,200 and 1,600 new cap cases per month.     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 some months ahead.