H-1B’s Still Available
The FY2011 H-1B cap filing period opened April 1, 2010. As of April 8, 2010, the USCIS has only received 19,100 H-1B petitions for the 85,000 slots currently allotted. This means there are many H-1B slots left to be filled!
The H-1B category is for individuals who wish to perform temporary work in the U.S. in positions that require a Bachelor’s or higher degree (i.e. in a specialty occupation). Each year, 65,000 slots are allotted for holders of Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent experience and 20,000 slots are allotted for U.S. Master’s degree holders (or higher), totaling 85,000 slots. In previous years, the quota was reached within days of April 1, however, due to the struggling U.S. economy, that is not currently the case. Last year, the cap period remained open over 8 months from April 1, 2009 – December 21, 2009.
Despite the slowdown in H-1B filings, the category remains a first-come/first-serve system, so filing an H-1B cap petition sooner rather than later is best. The USCIS can announce at any time that the cap has been reached and it is closed until next year. Please contact our immigration law firm if you would like our assistance with your H-1B petition.
Tags: H-1B, h-1b cap, H-1B quota
