H-1B Work Visa Numbers Starting To Dwindle for Fiscal Year 2006
August 1, 2005

Although fiscal year 2006, which starts on October 1, 2005 and runs through September 20, 2006, has yet to arrive, the H-1B visa supply for this period is starting to dwindle.

As of August 1, 2005, out of the allotment of 65,000 for the coming fiscal year (FY 05’s allotment is long gone), 21,252 cases have been approved and an additional 27,788 are pending. That leaves roughly 10,000 visas remaining for FY 06 from the general allotment.

Pursuant to recent legislation, in addition to the supply of 65,000, another 20,000 H-1B visas are available for foreign workers who have graduated from U.S., graduate degree programs. From this supply, based on approved and pending cases, some 10,000 visas remain available from fiscal year 2005, and more than 12,000 for fiscal year 2006.