20,000 Additional H-1B Numbers

The regulation makes 20,000 new H-1B visas available only to foreign workers with a master level or higher degree from a US academic institution.  This number is in addition to the Congressionally mandated annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas.

The annual cap for H-1B visas for FY 2005 has been reached.  However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has decided to reopen the filing period for FY 2005 on Thursday May 12, 2005 for qualified H-1B candidates having a master level or higher degree from a US academic institution only. 

H-1B candidates subject to the annual cap who do not have a master level or higher degree from a US academic insitution must file for a start date in FY 2006.

Beginning in FY 2006 and for future fiscal years, USCIS will exempt the first 20,000 H-1B petitions reflecting a candidate with a US-earned master's or higher degree from the H-1B cap. 

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