Early Data on FY 2013 H-1B Numbers

Only four days into the start of the FY 2013 season, the USCIS reported double the amount of filings over this time last year.  There is still time to secure some coveted FY 2013 H-1B numbers, but employers should get offer letters finalized soon.  As we predicted earlier this year in our FY H-1B planning/best practices guidelines, heavier demand could result in the “season” ending much earlier than this last fiscal year.   FY H-1B visa numbers may run out in Summer if employers maintain steady filing rates.

Yesterday, the USCIS announced during a stakeholders meeting in Laguna Niguel that as of April 4, 2012, it had received 22,323 cap-subject H-1B visa petitions.  The USCIS further related that of those, 25% were H-1B visa petitions to be counted towards the 20,000 set aside of H-1B numbers for US advanced degree (masters and PhD) holders.  We expect the USCIS to update its FY H-1Bnumbers counts soon, and to provide weekly or biweekly updates, depending upon how heavy demand is.  We sure could use Congressional action on increasing H-1B numbers.