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Start of H-2B application period

From June 1, 2009 US companies may start submitting H-2B petitions for employees supposed to start October 1. Like H-1B, this visa category, too, is subject to an annual cap. Only a limited number can be issued during each fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). Currently, the limit is at 66,000, divided up into two application periods:

-         33,000 are available during the first half of the fiscal year (October 1 until March 31)

-         33,000 are available during the second half of the fiscal year (April 1 until September 30)

Find detailed information here.

H-1B cap has not yet been reached

USCIS has reported that the H-1B quota of 65,000 applications for the fiscal year 2009/2010 that begins October 1, 2009 and end September 30, 2010 has not yet been met. By May 11, 45,000 petitions had been received, meaning 20,000 more can be submitted before the quota is reached.

Since H-1B petitions can be submitted six months prior to the beginning of the fiscal year to USCIS, the first possible date for petitions every year is April 1.

Over the past years this usually led to the USCIS announcing April 2 as the final receipt date, since more than 150,000 petitions were received within 48 hours. This year’s relatively low number of petitions is suspected to be a direct result of the worldwide financial crisis. The crisis also led to the following change of regulations:

Companies who have received financial support from the US government not only have to state this in their H-1B petition, but will also be classified “dependent employers.” This has serious consequences, as it means they have to submit additional documentation from the Department of Labor.

As soon as this year’s H-1B quota is reached, new applications cannot be submitted before April 1, 2010 for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2010.

Good luck to all applicants!