From the July 03, 2006 Edition of ISSS-BU
News
Advanced-Degree H-1B Visa Numbers Moving Quickly
As many ISSS-BU News subscribers know, the H-1B visa cap for fiscal year 2007, which begins October 1, 2006, was reached on May 26, 2006. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still accepting applications for certain categories of H-1B petitions. The categories include recipients of US master’s or higher degrees (until the 20,000 limit in this category is reached). USCIS is now reporting that as of June 23, 2006, nearly 12,000 such applications had been processed, with approximately 800 more received but not yet processed. Thus, fewer than half of the available visas for such degree recipients remain.
Anyone eligible for this filing category whose employer has not yet filed the H-1B petition is strongly advised to do so soon, before the remaining available visa numbers are exhausted.
To view the USCIS chart that periodically updates the H-1B visa processing numbers, visit:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/tempbenefits/cap.htm
There are additional categories of H-1B petitioners who are exempt from the visa cap. Those categories include:
- Current H-1B workers filing for extensions, changing employers, changing the terms of employment, concurrent employment
- Cap-Exempt Positions such as jobs at US colleges or universities, related non-profit entities, nonprofit research organizations, governmental research organizations
The H1-B temporary worker visa allows professional foreign nationals to work in the United States in specialty occupations for a period of up to six years.