UPDATE: H-1B Cap Numbers

USCIS began accepting cap-subject H-1B petitions for FY 2013 on April 2, 2012.  The earliest start date for petitions submitted during the FY 2013 cap season is October 1, 2012.  During last month's newsletter we provided a quick overview of the H-1B cap numbers and promised to keep you informed of the cap count as we progress through the season.  

As of April 20, 2012 the cap count is as follows:

H-1B Petition Type            Total Cap           Current Cap Count

 Regular Quota                    65,000                25,000

 Advanced Degree               20,000                 10,900

Total                   85,000                 35,900

Remaining H-1B Cap                        49,100 

So far, the volume of petitions filed per week for fiscal year 2013 is higher than for fiscal year 2012.  The cap count numbers for FY 2012 for the same week for the regular quota was 1,200 whereas this year we have 3,200.  Similarly, the advanced degree quota petitions have also doubled.  There were roughly 600 last year this time and this year we are at 1,500.  If this pace of filing continues, the H-1B cap for FY 2013 might exhaust by the end of August 2012.  The Advanced degree quota is already almost half done and might exhaust in another 7 to 8 weeks.