When the USCIS created guidelines for the new 20,000 FY2005 H-1B numbers reserved solely for those holding US Master's degrees, the agency hinted that all those new numbers might be claimed within the first two days of the "open period" beginning May 12.  Such estimates appear to have been far from the mark, however, according to a recent USCIS press release.  As of May 20, 2005, eight days after the May 12 opening date, less than 6,400 requests for an FY2005 H-1B number have been filed, or just under a third of the available numbers. 

Jackson & Hertogs will continue to post updates as they arrive from USCIS.

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