Washington, D.C.– USCIS has advised AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association)that it has adjudicated 56,100 approvals toward the FY2005 H-1B cap
so far. There remain other 2004 cases, such as those caught in IBIS
checks, for which the remaining 2,100 numbers (65,000 minus the
Chile/Singapore numbers) are expected to be applied. These are the
numbers for which filings were cut off in 2/04.

Therefore, anyone wishing to file a H-1B petition for the first time
must do so immediately if they want to have a chance of getting a H-
1B approved for the next fiscal year. Otherwise, they will have to
wait until October 1, 2005 before they can start employment in this
nonimmigrant status.