H-1B Filings Advance Toward FY2013 CAP

As we announced in a previous Immigration Alert, H-1B visas for this fiscal year are being used at a significantly increased rate from past years—reflecting the gradual improvement of the U.S. economy and the continued shortage of workers in the IT industry.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that as of May 25, 2012, U.S. employers have filed for 48,400 H-1B visas subject to the regular cap of 65,000 and 17,500 H-1B visas available to foreign nationals holding a Master's degree or other advanced degree from a U.S. university. USCIS began accepting H-1B petitions on April 1, 2012, with the most recent usage figures as follows: