Times have changed. USCIS will continue to receive H-1B specialty occupation petitions, as per the agency’s recent announcement. Just a few years ago, before the recession, quota numbers were filled on the first day of filing, and the agency had to hold a lottery to decide which applications would be accepted for adjudication.
This year, USCIS began receiving H-1B applications on April 1st for the 2012 fiscal year, which commences October 1st. The agency now says that it received approximately 5,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap, and approximately 4,500 petitions toward the 20,000 cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees. Based on these numbers, H-1Bs should be available to cap-subject employers for some time.