As of September 25, 2009, approximately 46,700 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.

The cap numbers have not moved much over the past 3-4 months, so H-1B numbers should be available going into the 2010 calendar year.  Reasons behind the unusual H-1B number availability may be the current economic situation and an increase in denials for IT conuslting company petitioners.