Washington: The H-1B visa, the most sought after by Indian IT professionals has opened to a lackluster response, with less than 6,000 applications received after it opened on April 1.
“USCIS has received approximately 5,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap, and approximately 4,500 petitions toward the 20,000 cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees,” the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement, a week after it started receiving applications for the visas for the fiscal year 2012 beginning October 1, 2011.
As such, USCIS said it would continue to receive applications for the H-1B visa till the caps are reached. The popular work visa is the most sought after by the computer technology professionals from India.
As mandated by the US Congress, the USCIS will accept petitions for 65,000 H-1B visas.