As you may know, the 65,000 numerical limitation on H-1B visas was reached on October 15, 2004, two weeks after the fiscal year began, and no new H-1Bs may be approved until October 1, 2005. The H-1B Reform Act passed on December 27, 2004 made an additional 20,000 H-1B visas available to persons holding a master's degree or higher from a U.S. Institution. These additional H-1B numbers were to be made available on March 8, 2005 (today).

However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has just now determined that eligibility for the additional 20,000 visas "will not be limited to those individuals holding a master's degree or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher learning," but rather will be made available to "all qualified H-1B nonimmigrant aliens."

Please note that until the filing instructions are published in the Federal Register, we will not be able to file these additional H-1B petitions. USCIS expects to publish this information "as soon as possible."

The 20,000 additional H-1Bs will probably run out very soon. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for one of these H-1B visas, please contact our office immediately.