Jan 11 2006

USCIS Nearing Cap for Advanced Degree H-1B Visas

As of January 10, 19,622 visa applications have been received for the H-1B Advanced Degree Exemption for Fiscal Year 2006. The cap for this exemption is 20,000, leaving only 378 additional visas available under this category. The cap has already been reached for both traditional H-1B visas (FY 06) and H-2B visas (1^st half of FY 06). Less than 500 visas are available for H-2B visas for the entire year.

Please see the table below for additional details.

	H-1B (FY 06)	H-1B Advance Degree Exemption (FY 06)	H-2B 1st Half (FY 06)	H-2B 2nd Half (FY 06)	H-2B FY 06
Cap	58,200	20,000	33,000	33,000	66,000
Beneficiaries Approved	------	17,306	------	2,304	50,309
Beneficiaries Pending	------	2,316	------	6,310	9,199
Total	Cap Reached	19,622	Cap Reached	8,614	59,508
Date of Last Count	8/10/2005	1/10/2006	12/15/2005	1/11/2006	1/11/2006