H-2B Cap Count as of February 9, 2016

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 2016.

As of February 9, 2016, for the First Half of the FY 2016 Fiscal Year, USCIS has receipted filings on behalf of 31,948 beneficiaries toward the 33,000 H-2B cap amount.  This count includes 19,655 approved and 12,293 pending petitions.  For the Second Half of the FY 2016 Fiscal Year, USCIS has not receipted any filings towards the 33,000 H-2B cap amount.   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  USCIS will accept filings in excess of the cap because of denials or withdrawn petitions and because employers may in the end employ fewer H-2B beneficiaries than shown in their petitions.