USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.   As of December 3, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 51,200 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of 800 over the last Thanksgiving week).  Similarly, as of December 3, there were 18,700 H-1B visas filed subject to the U.S. Masters cap which has 20,000 limit (an increase of about 300 over the last Thanksgiving week).

H-1B Quota Trends – Last Week’s Numbers are Inconclusive Due to Thanksgiving

The numbers, as reported over the past week are inconclusive because of the fact that it the Thanksgiving holiday week.  However, based on review of the prior weeks’ numbers, the see a slight increase over the past two weeks compared to the weeks prior.  The regular cap H-1B filings have remained between 1,000-1,500 per week and the trend continues.  The U.S. masters cap H-1B filings have been between 300-500 over the past few weeks and as a result, the 1,000 increase over the past two weeks seems to suggest an increase in the rate of filings.   As the end of the H-1B regular and masters cap quotas start to come close, we expect that the numbers of regular and master’s cap filings to increase over the next few weeks.

H-1B Quota Expected to be Reached in Early 2011

With the current pace of filings, or about 1,000-1,500 regular H-1B cap filings per week and 400-500 master’s cap per week, we estimate that the H-1B cap would be reached in 5-10 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, and as the end of the H-1B cap is in sight, it is very likely that the pace of H-1B filings will increase and the cap will be reached fast.  In prior years, the H-1B filings increase over the past weeks of the H-1B cap and we expect the same this year.

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.