The first H-1B cap count for the 2012 employment season was released Thursday, April 7, despite scares of a government shutdown. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported receiving 5,900 toward the 65,000 regular cap-subject H-1B petitions and 4,500 towards the 20,000 H-1B Master's category. While these initial counts represent a decrease from last year’s standings, data suggests that the ongoing increases in hiring will contribute to a rising cap.

Thus, H-1B cap numbers remain available, and there is still time to submit your FY2012 H-1B visa application for foreign national applicants beginning employment on October 1, 2011 or later. Contact VISANOW to see if this is an option for you/your foreign national.

VISANOW will be blogging regular updates on the H-1B cap in addition to notifying our social media followers of real-time information through Facebook and Twitter.

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