Number of H-1B Petitions Granted
Number of H-1B Petitions Granted. Limitations of H-1B petitions are in effect for the 2010 year. There will be a significant decrease in the number of petitions that will be accepted.
USCIS announced that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2011 cap on April 1, 2010. The fiscal year cap (numerical limitation on H-1B petitions) for FY 2011 is 65,000. Foreign workers fill a critical need in the U.S. labor market—particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Every year, U.S. employers seeking highly skilled foreign professionals compete for the pool of H-1B visa numbers for which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) controls the allocation. Research shows that H-1B workers complement U.S. workers, fill employment gaps in many STEM occupations, and expand job opportunities for all. Jobs in fields such as mathematics, engineering, technology, and medical sciences often qualify.