United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that
the 65,000 H-1B cap for the 2010 fiscal year (FY 2010) was reached on
December 21 (click here for more information). The annual limit for
new H-1Bs is 65,000 (less up to 6,800 set aside for citizens/nationals of
Chile or Singapore, plus any of the unused 6,800 from the prior fiscal
year). An additional 20,000 H-1Bs are available to individuals who possess
a Master’s or higher degree from a U.S. academic institution (the
“Master’s cap”). For FY 2010, the 20,000 Master’s
cap was reached as of September 25, 2009. “New” H-1Bs are thus
unavailable until the start of FY 2011 on October 1, 2010.
