In 2007, the number of applications that flooded the offices of the US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) filled the 2008 cap of 65,000 in the first three days of the office accepting applications from April 1.

In 2008, this quota was reached within the first week of April. One year later, the 2010 quota was filled only by December 2009. The 2011 cap was reached only by January 2011. When applications opened for the 2012 quota on April 1 this year, there were only 5,900 applications towards the 65,000 cap in the first week. By April 22, the number had risen to 8,000.

What changed between 2008 and 2010 that made the H-1B lose its charm among Indians and Indian IT firms?