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USCIS Report on the Characteristics of H-1B Workers for Fiscal Year 2015

Giovane e bella donna in carriera durante il suo turno di lavoro

On March 17, 2016, USCIS presented a report titled, “Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers” for fiscal year 2015. Fiscal year 2015 ran from Oct. 1, 2014 through Sept. 30, 2015. The report was originally provided to four members of Congress, including The Honorable Charles Grassley, The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy, The Honorable Robert W. Goodlatte and The Honorable John Conyers Jr.

The report includes some of the following highlights:

  • The number of H-1B petitions filed increased 9 percent from 318,824 in fiscal year 2014 to 348,669 in fiscal year 2015.
  • The number of H-1B petitions approved decreased 13 percent from 315,857 in fiscal year 2014 to 275,317 in fiscal year 2015.
  • 71 percent of H-1B petitions approved in fiscal year 2015 were for workers between the ages of 25 and 34.
  • 45 percent of H-1B petitions approved in fiscal year 2015 were for workers with a bachelor’s degree, 44 percent had a master’s degree, 7 percent had a doctorate degree, and 3 percent were for workers with a professional degree.
  • 66 percent of H-1B petitions approved in fiscal year 2015 were for workers in computer-related occupations.
  • The median salary of beneficiaries of approved petitions increased from $75,000 for fiscal year 2014 to $79,000 for fiscal year 2015.
  • Of the H-1B petitions approved in fiscal year 2015, 71 percent reported that the beneficiary was born in India. The second most prevalent country of birth of H-1B beneficiary’s was China, representing 10 percent of all beneficiaries.

H-1B season is once again upon us; H-1B petitions should be filed by April 1, 2017, so don’t delay! Berardi Immigration Law assists numerous clients each year with the preparation and filing of these petitions and we are now accepting H-1B cases. Contact us right away if you have questions on this visa category or would like to see if your employees will qualify.