United States: Another Substantial Increase in FY 2013 H-1B Cap Filings, Though Numbers Remain Available
As of May 18, USCIS had received 42,000 filings against the standard H-1B cap of 65,000, and 16,000 filings against the 20,000 advanced-degree exemption. This represents an increase of 5,300 standard filings and 1,200 advanced-degree filings since the agency’s last count on May 11.
USCIS reports that, as of May 18, it had received 42,000 filings against the standard H-1B cap of 65,000, and 16,000 filings against the cap exemption of 20,000 for foreign nationals holding U.S. advanced degrees – an increase of 5,300 standard and 1,200 advanced-degree cases.
Although both standard and advanced-degree numbers remain available for employment in FY 2013, the H-1B cap count continues to increase steadily, with a substantial volume of filings per week.
The pace of cap number usage is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks, as graduation season continues and as the advanced-degree exemption nears exhaustion. Once 20,000 advanced-degree cases are filed, all further cap filings – including both standard and advanced-degree cases – will be counted against the standard quota.
If your organization is planning to petition for H-1B employment in FY 2013, contact your designated Fragomen professional as soon as possible so that cases can be filed promptly.
Fragomen closely monitors the H-1B cap count and will provide further updates as the filing period proceeds. If you have any questions about this Client Alert, please contact your designated Fragomen professional.
Source: Fragomen