On April 17, 2009 USCIS updated the count of H-1B petitions received and counted towards the H-1B cap on the USCIS website. As of April 13, 2009, approximately 43,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. This means that only 1000 petitions were filed in the second week. It is clear from this that most of the H-1b petitions were filed on April 1 and the cases filed now are only residual cases. We therefore expect the quota to be open for some time. If you are an IT Staffing company, we suggest that you file your H-1's once you obtain a work order and contract for your employee as you now have the luxury of waiting for the same.