Before the 2008 financial crisis, applications for the H-1B visa--visas for high-skilled individuals-- reached its cap in less than 48 hours in the U.S.. In 2007, particularly, the maximum quota was reached in less than 24 hours.
On April 2 the USCIS started receiving applications for this type of visa and so far only approximately one fourth of the cap has been filled.
A total of 17,400 petitions have been received for a cap of 65,000 visas in addition to 8,200 petitions for a 20,000 cap exemption that favors foreign nationals who graduated in U.S. universities.
The agency in a statement announced, "Should USCIS receive the number of petitions needed to meet the cap, it will issue an update advising the public that the FY 2013 H-1B cap has been met as of a certain date, known as the 'final receipt date'. The date USCIS informs the public that the cap has been reached may differ from the actual final receipt date."
The agency also reminded that all petitions received after the final receipt date (September 30) would be rejected.
The H-1B visa is primarily used for individuals in the technology industry including programmers, engineers, scientists, journalists, and others.
For more information on the H-1B visa, click here.
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