Client Alert

Immigration News - July 14, 2006

July 17, 2006

By Paul Hastings Professional

H-1B Cap for U.S. Advanced Degree Graduates Likely To Be Reached Very Soon

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has again updated its website to reflect that, as of July 11, 2006, it had received more than 16,000 H-1B petitions that, if approved, will count against the FY 2007 cap on H-1Bs issued to graduates of U.S. advanced degree programs. As noted in our earlier Client Alert, there is an annual cap of 20,000 on H-1Bs for graduates of U.S. advanced degree programs, but USCIS intends to accept 21,000 FY 2007 cap-subject filings to account for withdrawals and denials.

At the reported filing rate, the cap for U.S. advanced degree holders will likely be reached within the next two weeks, and could actually be reached within the coming days. Employers seeking to file an H-1B petition under the FY 2007 U.S. advanced degree H-1B cap should therefore do so as soon as possible.

SAVE THE DATE - Important Immigration Seminar on September 27 & 28

The Global Personnel Alliance (GPA) and Paul Hastings will sponsor a seminar on Global Immigration and Employment Issues, to be held in Washington, D.C. on September 27 & 28.  The seminar will focus on the major developments over the past year and will feature speakers from Capitol Hill, the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security. Registration information will be distributed shortly.