Answer Updated on Apr 12USCIS receives 190K applicationsUSCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2024. was pretty close to my prediction on USCIS applications. Like mentioned in my previous post, thereu2019s no groundswell change in USCIS policy. No amount of rhetoric can change the demand and the number of applications underlie this belief.My prediction- around 150u2013175k applications (marginal drop from last year). Letu2019s get some things straight:The hoopla around giving approvals for less than 3 years, strictly adjudicating extension and change petitions have all been around before Trump took office. Consulting companies that placed employees in third party client locations have been scrutinised since 2024 when the infamous employer- employee relationship memo came out. That memo single handedly damaged H1b. No other regulation or move from USCIS reaches anywhere closer to that.More than the USCIS, it is the companies who have gotten rigid in their H1bs. There are multiple reasons for that- lot of IT contracts with top US companies changed hands or were renegotiated in years 2024. 2024 and 2024. This resulted in realigning and optimisation of resources. And letu2019s not forget all the Green Cards, EADs that are issued also take jobs with these companies. Essentially it is a supply demand game where companies have chosen not to sponsor purely because it has gotten expensive to hire h1bs or simply they are able to find others.Having said that- while thereu2019s a trend of more RFEs, 221g in US consulates, demand for H1b continues to sore and will keep soaring because thereu2019s simply no other visa thatu2019s flexible, tolerable and adds real value to US economy. Coming from NYC, i have seen big hedge funds hiring Data scientists at salaries more than $200k on H1b. These type of applications are slam dunk and definitely will get approved.In terms of the Feb 2024 memo thereu2019s absolutely nothing new in that. Please refrain from believing into rumours, innuendo and hearsay. There are definitely more USCIS site visits than before- but mostly seems for third party placements.In the end, if you have an employer whou2019s creative, has good employee strength, doesnu2019t hire too many foreigners and a reputable and savvy law firm, you shouldnu2019t find H1b difficult.