USCIS announced that as of April 7, 2011, it has already received 5,900 H-1B "CAP" petitions, out of the 65,000 available this fiscal year. USCIS continues to accept H-1B filings for Fiscal Year 2012, with work start dates beginning October 1, 2011. In addition, employers filed approximately 4,500 H-1B "MASTERS CAP" petitions, claiming a significant portion of the 20,000 Master's Cap exemptions for H-1B visas.

Employers may continue to request an H-1B visa for foreign employees with start dates beginning October 1, 2011.

An H-1B visa is available to foreign workers in a "specialty occupation." U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise, including physicians, scientists, engineers, computer programmers, etc.

Source: USCIS Press Release, April 8, 2011.