The USCIS has recently declared their count on the current applications for the H1B visa, for 2010. There is a definite increase in the trend numbers as compared to 2009, with 1600 applications being filed in just under a week. Although this is still far from what the numbers were like a few years ago, it could very well be a sign for things to return to normal in the coming months as the recession eases up.

By the 20^th of November 2009, the USCIS had received over 56,900 H1B cap subject applications. The department has gone ahead and provided its approval to visas to foreigners with advanced certifications, who have met the requirements and beyond, for the 2010 quota. All applications from foreigners holding advanced certifications will henceforth be considered for approval under the 2010 H1B quota of 65,000. The USCIS has also declared that it will continue accepting applications in both categories of cap-subject and advanced certifications until the allotted numbers have been met. It will of course take into consideration that some applications would be denied upon not meeting the H1B visa requirements. As we see it, this implies that the USCIS will accept far greater number of applications, as compared to the numbers that would finally be given out.

The last year has seen a huge dip in the number of H1B applications that have been received by the USCIS, probably the lowest ever since the boom of IT professional making their applications since the 1990s. The depression in economy of course had a large part to play in this, with fewer jobs being allocated to foreign nationals for whatever reasons. However, employers can now hope to bring in the right talent to their companies with the recession easing up, and H1B applicants being sent a positive year so far, for the year 2010. An increase in the number of foreign nationals who have applied for the H1B so far, is a tell tale sign of the economy bettering itself, more jobs being opened, and more people wanting to live and work in the US, as times before. The cap for the year 2009 being far from filled, it is encouraging to foreign candidates to see an increase in the numbers of visas already allotted for the year 2010, with a preference being given to candidates holding advanced degrees, very much in line with the trends in the early part of the decade.