FY2011 H-1B Cap Count -H-1B cap has been reached

Update : H-1B cap has been reached as of Jan 27,2011 Despite the sluggish economy, H-1B quota is steadily closing. Every fiscal year 65,000 H-1B cap-subject visas are available, and 20,000 additional visas are reserved for aliens with advanced degrees for a total of 85,000. The USCIS statistics below show that, every week, more than 1,000 H-1B cap-subject petition have been receipted in the month of December.   As of December 17, 2010, approximately 53,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. Additionally, USCIS has receipted 19,700 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.

As of December 10, 2010, approximately 52,400 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. Additionally, USCIS has receipted 19,100 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. As of December 3, 2010, approximately 51,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. Additionally, USCIS has receipted 18,700 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. Because there is a tendency for the H-1B cap-subject petition filing rate to accelerate towards the end of the quota, it is a real possibility that H-1B quota will be filled in January or February 2011.

Please note that once the 20,000 H-1B visas that are reserved for aliens with advanced degrees have been used, new petitions for aliens with advanced degrees will be counted towards the regular 65,000 visa quota. In this regard, we encourage those with a need for H-1B visa to proceed with the preparation as soon as possible.

Siyuan Chang