Responding to demands from employers in the computer and engineering sectors, Congress last year raised the limit on H1-B visas---six-year work/immigration permits for foreign workers with the equivalent of bachelor's degrees---to 195,000 annually through 2003. While last year saw 30,00 applications filed after the 115,000 cap then in effect had been reached, the number of H1-B's requested for 2001 fell short of the limit by almost 32,000/ The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, however, emphasize that there is still a strong demand for tech-workers---and many U.S> born tech-workers continue to argue for reduced limits.
See "Requests for Skilled-Worker Visas Fell Short of Limit", CARRIE JOHNSON, The Washington Post, November 5, 2001