US - H-1B cap almost filled for FY2005
31 August 2004
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The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it had received 40,000 H-1B applications toward the FY2005 cap as of 4 August 2004. Approximately 21,000 applications have been approved and 19,000 are currently being processed. If this trend continues, it is likely that H-1B cap of 65,000 for fiscal year 2005 will be filled near the end of fiscal year 2004 on 1 October. It is unlikely that the US Government will increase this cap especially during the current election season.
The US fiscal year for visa purposes fruns from 1 October to 30 September every year.
It is very important that employers who are considering hiring an overseas employee make their H-1B application as soon as possible to avoid delays in a start date of next October for their non-US employees. Please note that the H- 1B cap does not relate to transfers, H-1B extension or renewals and only relates to new applications.
If you are an employer interested in hiring from overseas and need to make an H-1B application, please contact our US visa department on +44 (0) 207 842 0800 to find out how we can assist you with your application.