FY2010 H-1B Numbers Update (September 18, 2009)

USCIS released updated information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.  As of Friday, September 18, USCIS has received approximately 46,000 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.

The numbers, as of September 18th, indicate that there was a notable increase (of about 900 H-1B new petitions) in the number of H-1B petitions, compared to August 28, 2009 (or for the past three weeks).    Despite this increase, 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.