As an addition update for the Fy2012 H1B visa season that commenced April 1, 2011 we have had slow growth in the overall H1B visa quota numbers throughout the year and again like FY2011, we have gone into the following US Immigration year
So as of July, 2011, which is the most recent H1B quota update the USCIS has announced. There are currently 22,700 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 13,800 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.
Cap Type | Cap Amount | Cap Eligible Petitions | Date of Last Count |
H-1B Regular Cap | 65,000 | 22,700 | 7/29/2011 |
H-1B Master’s Exemption | 20,000 | 13,800 | 7/29/2011 |
(It should be noted that the related H-1B1 visa for Chilean and Singaporean citizens are not included in this cap)
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,
Good Luck to All Who Are Searching!
Cj