Yesterday, USCIS provided updated numbers for the amounts of
cap-subject H-1B petitions it has received. As of October 15, 2010,
approximately 42,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions have been received and
receipted. USCIS has also received and provided receipts for 15,700
H-1B petitions for aliens with master’s degrees or higher.
The H-1B standard annual cap is 65,000; the H-1B master’s exemption cap
is 20,000. This year’s filing period opened on April 1, 2010. Petitions
that are subject to the FY 2011 cap must request an employment start
date of October 1, 2010 or after. Any petitions that request start
dates prior to October 1, 2010 will be rejected by USCIS.
