The USCIS stated that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to meet both the regular cap of 65,000 and the US advanced degree exemption, commonly known as the master’s cap, set at 20,000.
The pilot will address around 20,000 work visa renewals, or almost a tenth of the estimated 583,420 H1-B visa holders. The programme, which was proposed in February and formally announced in September during prime minister Narendra Modis US visit, will commence in December.