USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.   As of September 10, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 37,400 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of 800 over the past week).  Similarly, as of September 10, there were 13,700 H-1B visas filed subject to the U.S. Masters cap which has 20,000 limit (an increase of about 300 over the past week).

H-1B Quota Trends – Slight Downward Trend in Regular Cap Filing

The numbers, as reported over the past week, show a slight decrease over the substantial 4,000 increase in the number of regular filings over the week of August 20th and over the week of August 27th.  Last week’s increase of 800 regular cap cases marks a slight downward trend in the number of regular cap H-1B filings; however, this can be attributed to the Labor Day’s holiday.

H-1B Quota Expected to be Reached in March or April 2011

With the current pace of filings, or about 1,000-1,500 regular H-1B cap filings per week and 400 master’s cap per week, we estimate that the H-1B cap would be reached in 20-25 weeks, or sometime in early 2011.

We wish to reiterate our caution to potential H-1B employers and employees that as the U.S. economy is seen to recover and grow, it is possible that the pace of H-1B filings will increase.

We invite you to subscribe to our free weekly immigration newsletter to receive timely updates on this and related topics.  In the meantime, if you are considering filing a cap-subject H-1B petition as part of the FY2011 quota, please contact us as soon as possible — it is never too early to file a cap-subject H-1B petition.