H-1B demand may be retreating as feds increase scrutiny

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A small decline from May in the number of H-1B petitions gives rise to theories on cause

By Patrick Thibodeau - July 22, 2009 07:09 AM ET

Computerworld - WASHINGTON - For what may by the first time, the number of H-1B petitions withdrawn by applicants or rejected by U.S. authorities is exceeding the number of new petitions for the visas.

The numbers have resulted in a slight decrease over the past two months in the H-1B visa petition count on the scale of a rounding error. The drop may be little more than a short-term phenomenon, but it is inviting theories as to its cause, ranging from increased U.S. scrutiny of the H-1B petitions to the general economy.

The U.S. has received approximately 44,900 visa petitions toward its 65,000 H-1B visa cap, one of two caps, since it began accepting petitions on April 1. But the number of visa petitions reported in mid-May by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) was 45,500 visas. There has been a net decline of 600 visa petitions from May to June.

A USCIS spokesman, in an e-mail, said the reason for the decline is that the number of denials, withdrawals of applications and revocations are "quite simply" exceeding the number of new filings. The U.S. has a second H-1B cap of 20,000 set aside for graduates from U.S. universities with advanced degrees. In raw numbers, that cap number has been reached.

In sum, the U.S. has received 65,000 H-1B petitions since April 1 for 85,000 available visas for the fiscal that begins Oct. 1. The combined cap may well be reached in the months ahead, but for now, demand has flatlined.

<snip>http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135779/H_1B_demand_may_be_retreating_as_feds_increase_scrutiny?source=CTWNLE_nlt_dailyam_2009-07-22

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