As of October 30, 2009, approximately 53,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed.  USCIS has approved sufficient H1-B petitions for beneficiaries in possession of a U.S. Master's Degree to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of a foreign national with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000.

There was a significant jump in the number of petitions filed during the month of October because October 1, 2009 was the earliest start date.  This may also be a good sign that the American economy is on the upswing!