This afternoon, the USCIS announced that it has received sufficient petitions for the H-1B visa to reach the statutory cap for Fiscal Year 2012. The H-1B cap is 65,000 per fiscal year, and an additional 20,000 visas are allocated to advance degree graduates of United States universities. The "masters cap" was reached on October 19, 2011, and the regular cap was reached on November 22, 2011. Thus, any petition not filed before November 22 will be rejected. Filing will open up again for Fiscal Year 2013 on April 1, 2012 to begin work on or after October 1, 2013.

The cap does not affect individuals who have already been granted H-1B status and are extending their stay or moving to a new employer. Additionally, certain employers including universities and affiliated non-profit research centers and hospitals, are not subject to the cap. For more information on the H-1B cap, see our previous posting.