USCIS began to accept petitions for H-1B visas that are subject to the Fiscal Year 2013 Cap on April 2, 2012.  The current annual Cap on available visas is 65,000.  Some petitions are exempt from the Cap under the advanced degree exemption.  The first 20,000 petitions received and filed for a beneficiary who has obtained a U.S. Master’s Degree or higher are exempt from the Cap. 

As of April 20, 2012, USCIS reports receiving 25,000 eligible Regular Cap petitions against the 65,000 available visas.

Additionally, USCIS reported that as of the same date, 10,900 eligible Master’s Degree Exempt petitions had been received against the 20,000 available.