How to Check H1B Visa Processing times on USCIS website? Guide Screenshots

As I scanned through most of the comments on H1B topics, one of the most discussed topics is “ How long will my H1B petition processing take, I have filed in April of 2010 ?”. Some of you may know how to check the processing times on USCIS website, some of you may not know exactly. This article is a guide with screenshots to help some of you how to verify the processing times of your applications in various centers.

Identify your Processing center from H1B receipt Number ?

Read this article : Understanding H1B Case Number for full details about your case. On a high level first three letters indicate the location name of the service center where the H1B visa petition was filed.

LIN – Nebraska Service Center (LIN refers to Lincoln, Nebraska).

EAC – Vermont Service Center (old name: Eastern Adjudication Center).

SRC – Texas Service Center (old name: Southern Regional Center).

WAC – California Service Center (old name: Western Adjudication Center).

Check the H1B Processing time on USCIS website

It  might be pretty obvious link on home page, but in case you have not noticed…In the left hand navigation, you must see under

Customer tools à Before I file à Check Processing times

1)    Click on this link : Check Processing time

2)    Select your processing center based on the case number at your hand

3)    Display of processing times at a center.

Look at the screenshots below. You may not see exact dates at some centers and they say two  months or so. Be aware that USCIS may not update these dates daily. It is just a high level time. Read below for checking total volumes processed at service centers.

Look at Total Volume at USCIS H1B Processing centers

Another way to look at the processing times at the centers is to look at the volume of the H1B petitions they are processing every month. As you know despite less number of applications for Fiscal year 2011, still there is a lot of delay in processing at some centers. USCIS gives us a nice graph to see the volumes. For this, you exactly go the location as above mentioned, but select Check National processing

Customer tools à Before I file à Check National processing

1)    Click on this link : Check National Processing  time

2)    Select form type I-129

3)    Select your processing office,

4)    Select chart type and hit get results

It will give you a nice graph of the processing time of H1B petitions with good legend. Might not be the best, but gives a big picture. Check the screen shots below.

Do you know of any other creative ways to check the H1B processing times on USCIS website ?