H-2B Cap Count as of February 27, 2015

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its count of H-2B filing for temporary non-agricultural visas (H-2Bs) for employment for the first and second halves of FY 2015.

The congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2015 was reached on Jan. 26, 2015.   This means that no cap numbers from the first half of FY 2015 will carry over to the second half of FY 2015, which began on April 1, 2015.  As of February 27, 2015 ror the Second Half of the FY 2015 Fiscal Year, USCIS has receipted filings on behalf of 16,519 beneficiaries towards the 33,000 H-2B cap amount.  This count includes 14,740 approved and 1,779 pending petitions.  SOURCE

USCIS places a statutory numerical limit, or “cap,” on the total number aliens that it would issue a visa or otherwise provide H-2B status to (including through a change of status) during a fiscal year.  Currently, the H-2B cap set by Congress is 66,000 per fiscal year, with 33,000 allocated for employment beginning in the 1st half of the fiscal year (October 1 – March 31) and 33,000 allocated for employment beginning in the 2nd half of the fiscal year (April 1 – September 30).  USCIS will accept filings in excess of the cap because of denials or withdrawn petitions and because employers may in the end employ fewer H-2B beneficiaries than shown in their petitions.