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Deadline for H1B 2017 Regular Processing Receipts? Premium? Approvals ?

It is crazy to even think of the number of comments, questions, answers and troll on our H1B Visa 2017 page, we have hit over 10,000 comments…It is something that clearly shows the anxiety and frustration of many waiting for their H1B 2017 receipts. Would like to quickly summarize for everyone’s benefit on the anticipated deadline for getting regular processing receipts, premium processing receipts and about next steps like approvals.

When is the deadline for getting Premium Processing Receipts for H1B FY 2017 ?

Well, technically, if you have filed your petition under premium processing, you should have got a receipt by now via email or physical copy. If you have not yet received it, you have just few more days left.  The reality is that your chances of getting a receipt are quite slim…If you do get a receipt, you are part of the outliers like missing emails, mail in transit kind of situations.  All in all, you have about 4 days left to get your receipt as the premium processing clock starts from May 12th.

How about H1B 2017 Regular Processing Petitions Receipts Deadline ?

As you know, USCIS released a press alert that they completed data entry of all the H1B 2017  Selected  petitions on May 2nd and they will start to send out the rejected petitions.  So, technically, all the selected petitions for FY 2017 will be notified in regular mail by USPS. The regular USPS Retail Ground, Standard Mail takes about 2 to 8 working days for delivery. So, technically, as per the standard SLA of USPS, most of the selected petitions must be notified with their case receipt by regular standard mail by end of this week ( 8 working days), which is May 13th.   As it can happen with any shipping service, you can anticipate some outliers here and there to spill over receipts to early next week.  All in all, you need to start to think of back up options, if you do not hear anything, after end of this week. There are always outliers, where some petitioners have got receipts in June as well last year, but those are all exceptions and you cannot really count on that.  We have a vibrant community and many of our users are updating their status on H1B Visa 2017 Tracker, I request all of you to update the result for everyone’s benefit.  The rejection packages can continue to come for a long time until late July…While it is positive hope to wait till we see a physical reject package for full confirmation that you were not selected, I suggest you think of your backup plans, if you do not hear anything by end of this week and at the latest mid of next week…it is always better to plan ahead I guess.

What Next ? What happens after getting receipts?

We have written few articles in the past that talk about all the next steps. You may read the below articles to get some idea on the next steps.

Luck may NOT favor everyone, be prepared to accept the truth…

Some of you would have worked very hard and spent thousands of dollars to study in your dream Ivy League School in US and may even get your dream job on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley… Some of you would have cracked tough interviews at MNCs, worked hard to be in right team to get an on-site opportunity to work in US… Some of you would have tried to work with a consulting company, who was willing to sponsor and file H1B for you…Every person has a story aspiring to work in US…Unfortunately, in your work visa case in US, your hard work does not matter and it is Luck that plays a part…The reality is that there is no immediate fix to this process and you all have to live with it…If you are lucky and get selected, just be happy luck smiled at you…if you are unlucky, don’t get disheartened and try to curse yourself or anyone else, it is life…As Steve Jobs said, sometimes “Life Hits you with a Brick “, we need to accept it…maybe there are better things awaiting for you at your destiny…

What are your thoughts ?

   

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190 Comments

  1. Hello Everyone,

    My Case Status now shows as ‘Name Was Updated’.

    Below is the history of my case WACXXXXXXXXXX
    11-April-2017: Case was Received
    01-Aug-2017: Request for Evidence
    27-Oct-2017: Response to RFE was Received
    01-Nov-2017: Name was Updated

    Its has been 2 weeks from now. Does any one has any idea as how much time is required to process further? What would be my next status?
    How long should I need to wait. Is there anyone who is sailing with me?

    Reply
  2. My H1B was moved to RFE and then response was sent on December 1st week., My status still shown as, case received, there are no deadlines yet.

    Reply
  3. Hi,
    The below is the status of my H1B.

    Response To USCIS’ Request For Evidence Was Received
    On August 17, 2016, we received your response to our Request for Evidence for your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number WAC****.

    How long it will take to respond?

    Thanks,
    Dinesh

    Reply
  4. I have got RFE, and most of my friends status is rejected after RFE responded. And heard frm sumbdy This year, they are rejecting most of the cases after RFE response.any ideas on this?

    Reply
  5. Hi Admin,

    I have a question, I filled H1B this year. I can see my status “Case was received”, case active 191 days. Shall I wait or what. Please help me.

    Reply
    • Same here Kamalakant. Even my case stands on ” Case Received ” from Month April.

      Can we still hope for the best ! Can someone please update based on your previous experience !

      Best Regards,
      Ravi

      Reply
      • Guys.. my H1 status was “case was received since 11th April with vermont centre, just got it approved today. You may wanna check your status

        Reply
        • Congo Hitesh. Good to hear that. I checked mine. it’s still in Case Received from 11th April. My Case is with “California Service Center”. What’s the ” Field Office” for ” California Service Center.” in case I want to check the Processing time

          How about your status Kamalakant ???? Any luck !!

          Reply
          • Thanks. Unfortunately they don’t provide any timelines, they are supposed to review all petitions by 01st Oct however they are delayed like last year. Just cross your fingers to have an update soon.

    • Hi Kamalakant,

      My status still sleeps on ” Cae was Received “. Absolutely, no idea what’s gonna happen ! It’s already 1st week of November and not sure what to expect !

      Will keep you posted and also please keep me posted on your case status

      Reply
  6. Hi Saurabh,

    I’m on L visa in USA, applied COS to H and waiting for approval still. I already have an SSN. Saw in some comments here on this page, wondering do I need to apply a new SSN after COS gets approved ?

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Thanks Hitesh for the updates. Was your’s premium processing or Regular Processing?

      Based on your previous experience what are chances of Case Denial or RFE for cases like me which are with status ” Case Received ” from April? Any though ?

      Reply
      • Mine was regular processing. Chances of denial or RFE depends on the documentation provided with petition. Delay does not necessarily mean that chances of denial or RFE are increased. It’s just that USCIS has minimal staff (only 120 across all service centres i heard) reviewing lacs of petitions and causing the overall delay. Hope to have update soon.

        Reply
        • Thanks Hitesh ! Will wait and watch. Will see how it goes ! I have some believe now looking at your case from “Case Received” from April 11 to “Case Approved ”

          Congrats once more and will keep you posted on my H1B status !!!

          Reply
    • Hi,

      My Petition was got picked up in lottery, But still I haven’t received any approval conformation. Can anyone specify the time span so that I can wait for approval.

      Is any one know the deadline of the of Regular process?

      Reply
    • My case has the same status “Case was received” though i got my receipt Number on 11th April. Looks like Vermont center is overloaded

      Reply
    • Thanks Hitesh ! Will wait and watch. Will see how it goes ! I have some believe now looking at your case from “Case Received” from April 11 to “Case Approved ”

      Congrats once more and will keep you posted on my H1B status !!!

      Reply
  7. Hi Saurabh,

    My H1B petition has been approved today(filing date 04/11/2016, CA). In my petition I have opted Chennai consulate for Visa stamping. The current waiting period for Chennai is 130 days. Is it possible to change the consulate now? if yes, what are the procedures?

    Please help!

    Thanks,
    JJ

    Reply
    • Hello Everyone,

      My Petition was got picked up in lottery, But still I haven’t received any approval conformation. Can anyone specify the time span so that I can wait for approval.
      I’m bit worried.

      Thanks in Advance.

      Reply
  8. Is it true that even Premium processing of H1B transfer is getting delayed to get a receipt number from Vermont Service Center?

    Reply
    • No. The curtains are down. The fat lady has sung. The tribe has spoken. Please pack up your knives and go. Your work of art, didn’t work for me. You’re times up. I have to ask you to leave the mansion. You must leave the chateau. Your tour ends here. You’ve been chopped! You’ve been evicted from the Big Brother house. Your desert just didn’t measure up. Sashay away! You did not get a rose. You have been eliminated from the race. You are no longer in the running. You’re fired. Auf Wiedersehen.

      Reply
  9. Hi Saurabh
    My H1B Petition was approved on June 30th after RFE of maintenance of status.
    I guess i will receive my I-797C Soon. Saurabh here i have a question, when i can apply for my SSN.

    Reply
    • FirstTimer,

      I assume this is a caps-subject FY-17 petition which starts in Oct 1, 2016. If your COS is approved, then you can apply for SSN after COS becomes effective. So if COS is approved for Oct 1, then you can apply soon after. If COS is not approved, then you cannot apply for SSN until you get COS approved or enter US on stamped H-1 visa.

      Reply
          • Thanks @Saurabh
            Also my H4 Dependent can come here any time now… right ? or they have to wait until Oct 1st

          • FirstTimer,

            Dependent can go for H-4 stamping soon after your H-1 is approved. However, she cannot enter US on H-4 until your H-1 COS goes into effect. This would be Oct 1 in your case.

      • Hi Surabh

        I am on h4 visa now . My h1b got selcted and I’m waiting for approvals .after approvals I will start processing H4 to H1 so is it required to go India for my new h1b stamping .please help on this

        Thanking you

        Reply
        • H4 -H1,

          If your H-1 is approved w/ COS, then you have to start working on H-1 immediately. You can get visa stamped later when you travel outside of US next.

          If H-1 is approved w/o COS (no I-94 attached), then you either need to enter US on stamped H-1 visa or file separate COS before starting to work on H-1.

          Reply
  10. Hi,

    I have got the receipt and status is case was received on April 11th. But even today there is no change in the status. Will there be any deadline to receive the approval or RFE status. Please let me know if any one is aware. Thanks

    Sid.

    Reply
      • Hi All,

        I am aware of the fact that, we do not have SLAs for the petitions filed under RP.
        But, just curious to know, in general (based on last years experiences), when we start receiving updates (RFE or Approvals) for the petitions for RP applications.

        Mine is non-AD/RP

        Thanks,
        Ram

        Reply
        • Ram,

          Some have already received those updates. Most of the petitions will see some sort of update by Oct based upon historical trends. Again, each year is different so its just a guesstimate.

          Reply
  11. Hi,

    My application is Advacned Degree – Regular Processing – Conuslar Notification.

    My status shows as “Case Approved”. At present I am in India. Can I attend the VISA Interview now and Travel with H1? (My present status is OPT with expiry date of Jan 4th 2017)

    Thanks.

    Reply

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