August 14, 2009 H-1B Cap Count

As of August 14, 2009, approximately 45,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been received by USCIS and counted towards the H-1B cap. Approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits.

USCIS has also received 8,974 H-2B petitions for the first half of FY 2010 of which 8,183 are approved and 791 are pending.

Effective August 6, 2009, USCIS informed that FY 2009 H-2B filing period was reopened and immediately began accepting petitions. H-2B petitions for FY 2009 must be received, evaluated and adjudicated on or before September 30, 2009. Petitions received on or after Oct. 1, 2009, and/or with a starting date on or after Oct. 1, 2009, will be counted towards the fiscal year 2010 H-2B cap.