FY2011 H-1B Numbers Update – 34,900 Regular and 13,000 Masters Cap Visas Used (August 27, 2010)

USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1.   As of August 27, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 34,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of 1,000 over the past week).  Similarly, as of August 27, there were 13,000 H-1B visas filed subject to the U.S. Masters cap which has 20,000 limit (an increase of about 400 over the past week).

H-1B Quota Trends – Slight Upward Trend in Regular Cap Filing

The numbers, as reported over the past week, show a decrease over the substantial 4,000 increase in the number of regular filings over the week of August 20th.  However, last week’s increase of 1,000 still marks a slight upward trend in the number of regular cap H-1B filings.

H-1B Quota Expected to be Reached in March or April 2011

With the current pace of filings, or about 1,000 regular H-1B cap filings per week and 400 master’s cap per week, we estimate that the H-1B cap would be reached in 28-30 weeks, or somewhere in March or April of 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, it is possible that the pace of H-1B filings will increase.

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 — it is never too early to file a cap-subject H-1B petition.