As an addition update for the Fy2011 H1B visa season that commenced April 1, 2010 we have had slow growth in the overall H1B visa quota numbers throughout the year and again like FY2010, we have gone into the following US Immigration year
So as of November 5, 2010, which is the most recent H1b quota update the USCIS has announced. There are currently 46,800 petitions to count towards the general 65,000 H1B visa cap which only includes petitions that are approved or pending.
Anything that has already been denied is not included.
Additionally 17,200 petitions have been received for the US Advanced Degree exemption quota portion of 20,000. It should be noted that if the advanced degree quota fills up, then those petitions go into the pool for the regular 65,000 cap.
(It should be noted that the related H-1B1 visa for Chilean and Singaporean citizens are not included in this cap)
| Cap Type | Cap Amount | Cap Eligible Petitions | Date of Last Count |
| H-1B Regular Cap | 65,000 | 46,800 | 11/5/2010 |
| H-1B Master’s Exemption | 20,000 | 17,200 | 11/5/2010 |
So it would seem that there is plenty of visas still available and judging by the moderate amount of applications received thus far, traditional H1B visa sponsor companies are still nowhere the levels of hiring they were in 2006-8,
Certainly it would seem that the overall unchanged rate in the unemployment rate at the levels of close to 10% in the US overall is still having a large effect of the hiring of foreign talent.
Good Luck to All Who Are Searching!
Cj