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H1B 2016 – After Lottery – Premium, Regular Processing Receipts, Time

As I read the comments on our H1B Visa 2016 page, I can empathize what all emotions everyone are going through…some happy to be picked in lottery, some anxiously waiting for the result, some frustrated with the wait…some upset with the overall system and how it is abused… some swearing at others as they abused the system…when someone posts a comment telling that they have received the case number, the anxiousness or pressure among the ones waiting goes up by a big factor…Let me shed some light on the reality on the premium processing and regular processing times from a historical standpoint, so that all of you have a realistic expectations.

Let’s be realistic about results of H1B Lottery?  About 2 in 3 H1B petitions would be rejected !

I can imagine all the pain everyone has to go through, but let’s be realistic folks…Unfortunately, H1B is a lottery and only 85,000 petitions are selected from 233,000 petitions received for H1B 2016 quota.  Not being too picky on the precise probability…Just about 1 in every 3 H1B applications will be selected in the lottery process. It is very harsh on many who have spent thousands of dollars studying in US and on many who have been working at MNC companies waiting for years to get an opportunity to work in US, including many others like H4 holders who have found a job, sponsor and waiting to work…but unfortunately, it is the truth and reality…so, do not get disappointed with the results, it has nothing to do with your talent or hard work! It is pure gamble and luck…Not getting in H1B lottery is not the end of the world, stay positive…if you get it, great…if not, maybe there are better things that are coming for you in life ! Anyways, enough of the lecture 🙂 …

Keep the above truth in context and read below…

H1B 2016 Premium processing time – Case Receipts, Typical steps.

USCIS originally mentioned that the premium processing for FY 2016 applications will start no later than May 11th, later they issued a news alert that the H1B 2016 premium processing will start from April 27th.   Some of our readers are receiving the case receipts for the premium processing applications. You can check the status of selected petitions in our H1B Visa Case Tracker ….But, if you have not received your case receipt yet, you do NOT need to be in panic…You still have a week or so to get the premium processing receipts.

Usually for premium processing, the employer/ immigration attorney will get an email from USCIS informing about your H1B case with the receipt number. You can use that receipt number to track the status at USCIS site .  Ideally, all the receipts of selected H1B petitions should flow in on or before April 27th, or at least by 30th of April. Having said that, sometimes they may keep coming in the first few days of May too. What USCIS has promised is that the 15 calendar day premium processing SLA or Clock starts from April 27th. What it means is that the premium processing petitions have to be adjudicated by May 11th ( 15 calendar days from April 27th ). Also, one catch is that, if say your petition ends up in an RFE ( Request for evidence) while the adjudication of the petition, this will halt the premium processing clock for your petition and will restart after the RFE response is submitted by employer.

All in all, what I trying to articulate is that, just do not get nervous or more anxious when someone posts a comment that they have got the receipt and you have not. The lottery is done, if you were selected, you will get it…nothing will change that…stay positive!

H1B 2016 Regular Processing Time –Case Receipts, next steps

Typically, H1B petitions filed under regular processing do not have any mandatory SLA from USCIS, unlike in premium processing. They can take their own time based on their work load.  This is one of the most frustrating things many regular processing folks experience as they have to wait a lot of time… Anyways, if your regular processing petition was selected in lottery, your employer/ attorney would get the H1B case receipt notice in traditional postal mail from the USCIS. There will NOT be any email receipt notice. You as an employee needs to be in close touch with your employer/ attorney to know the status of your case.  If you were selected and your employer received the H1B receipt notice, the receipt notice will have the case number, which can be used on the USCIS website to check the status of your case.

As there is NO fixed SLA for the processing of the regular processing petitions, the receipts keep coming in sporadically from USCIS. Typically they would start to arrive from about 2 weeks from lottery date all the way till end of May or maybe even in early June for some cases. Again, this can be very frustrating to keep waiting on this receipts, but there is no choice.

Once you have the receipt number of your regular processing petition, you may upgrade it to  premium processing to get the adjudication done in 15 days…but, unfortunately, now you cannot upgrade the case now…you will have to wait for the receipt number to arrive in mail to take any further action like upgrade to premium processing…!

When you see a comment or status on our H1B tracker that regular processing petition case number received, do not panic and get worried about your case… You just need to wait for couple of months to conclude your luck…Over the years, I have seen the frustration of applicants and can empathize the pain that regular processing applicants go through…it is very tough ! All I can say is, stay calm and keep doing your day to day stuff, do NOT stress yourself.

Tracking your H1B Visa Application Case

We have created the H1B Visa Case Tracker with the goal that everyone can see the status of many people like you and have an approximation on timelines. Instead of adding status comments on blog, I request all of you to add your case and keep the status up to date on the H1B Visa Case Tracker as your case status changes…We will try to enhance, for more options..

Have you applied for H1B last year ? Any words of wisdom for new H1B filing candidates ?  Share your thoughts.

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Satheesh Kumar Ilu, commonly known as Kumar, is the founder of RedBus2US.com. He is an Immigration and Study Abroad expert. He holds an MS from the University of Houston–Clear Lake and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He studied, lived, and worked in the U.S. and Singapore for nearly two decades, and has traveled to over 25 countries.

   

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2,359 Comments

  1. I heard from someone that people who got selected for h1b last year received updates till mid of june.
    What about this year and some are saying may 11 would be last date for all PP/RP ? Is that true ?

    Reply
  2. NonAD/RP

    I heard from someone that people who got selected for h1b last year received updates till mid of june.
    What about this year and some are saying may 11 would be last date for all PP/RP ? Is that true ?

    Reply
  3. So all the RP started rolling, that means no PP is left, as as someone said, unselected/rejected PP petitions doesn’t come by 11th may, anyone? Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Got receipt no from employer today . Is there any way i can check my information and make sure employer has given me correct no?

    Reply
    • Result of adjudication(e.g. selected and accepted/denied/RFE) should come by that date, but not the “not selected”. It will be until you get the packet returned via snail mail which takes longer… which is bad. Happened to me last year.

      Reply
  5. I applied with a Premium processing, still no result.
    Do they give rejections in 15days SLA too? or just the selected ones?

    Reply
    • 15 days time frame is only for PP petitions selected in the lottery and not for rejected petitions. The rejected petitions are returned along with RP petitions.

      Reply
  6. Got acknowledgement from employer just now. Mine is Non-AD/RP/CSC. Stay positive and believe in God you will get it for sure.

    Reply
  7. Got selected in the lottery. Check was cashed out on April 29 and receipt received on May 4th. Non-AD/RP/Cali Center.
    Finger cross for the ones who are waiting. My friend’s check was cashed out on May 5th (AD/RP/Cali). Still hope there!! Hang on people!!

    Reply
  8. I did not get any update from my employer till date.So are there still any chances I might get it?? or Is it better I shud stop worrying and move on?

    Reply
  9. It’s may 7th today.. I haven’t received any receipt number from my employer… Are there any chances to get receipt after may 6th…

    Reply
    • i think so too.. today my lawyer said that he hasnt heard anything for my case, which means now im wating for the rejection

      Reply
  10. i got used to tough times of life… thought this opportunity will change my family situations. But started realizing that I’ll to under tough times throughout my life amidst of multiple application submitters

    Reply
  11. anyone here from 8kmiles, or any updates so far? Has any1 from 8kmiles got selected in the lottery… i haven’t got any news yet very worried..

    Reply
  12. I started arrange stuff and packing 🙂
    I can feel the rejection coming but not really care

    Afterall, congratz guys 🙂

    Im heading to new challenges

    Reply
  13. Yesterday, I checked with my DSO that my end date of work authorization has been automatically extended to 9/30/2015 and gave me the receipt number. My lawyer didn’t receive any notice from USCIS yet. Is it possible for me to get the receipt? (advanced/regular)

    Reply
  14. Hi All,

    mine is picked in lottery. its from “California Service Center”. received date is 13th April and notice date is 29th April.

    All the best to every one.

    Reply
  15. Hello Friends,
    Don’t lose the hope.
    I got update from my employer today(India) that I am selected in lottery and got receipt.
    Keep hoping I think employer taking their own time also so might be you will get response with few days delay.

    Best Of Luck To All…….Feeling Creazy & Will Get Gr888 Sleep Finally After Long Awaiting

    Reply
    • yes, you can still hope. I think USICS will complete sending receipt numbers by this Friday, which means that you may get it (if selected) from your employer\Attorney in 2-3 days after that.
      But yes, your chances are becoming slim day by day.

      Reply
  16. Thank God,
    My petition got selected and i have got receipt number from USCIS as well.
    when I check my status in USCIS, I got the below information, what it means?
    On April 13, 2015, we received your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number EAC***5221***, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by May 13, 2015, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go to uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
    Thanks in advence

    Reply
    • It’s clearly written and doesn’t need any explanation, please don’t behave as you don’t understand anything, if you are asking meaning for the above lines then you are not eligible to have h1b visa….stop showing off yourself for attention…

      Reply
      • Bro seriously that was epic, No all people on the blog but Most people are “Dumb af F**k*

        USCIS: “Your h1b has been approved”
        They be like: What does that mean.

        Lol

        Reply
  17. My status shows as acknowledgnent received but no number n all so does tht mean it has selected in lottery .plz help

    Reply
    • let me know, if you hear anything.. i am trying to contact them.. but no positive response.. they are asking to wait till july.. i dont know why..

      Reply
    • I am waiting too. but the chance is very slim. USCIS announced that they finished all of the data entering. It means if you were selected then you would be notified. It might be that your employer is slow and he did not inform you yet but personally I think that it’s over

      Reply
  18. its May 6th and I have still not received my Receipt number for H1b 🙁 hopes are down. anyone received anything today?

    Reply
  19. Guys…. I got mail from employer by saying “You are picked from lottery for 2015 H1B from INS”….

    I am NAD/RP/..

    Reply
  20. i got my I797c from my employer,when i cheked in the h1b status getting below error please
    Validation Error(s)
    You must correct the following error(s) before proceeding:

    At this time USCIS cannot provide you with information for your case. Please contact the NCSC 1 (800) 375-5283 for additional information.

    please reply i am tensed,whether i made it or not.p0lease advice

    Reply
  21. Anybody from Prolim here who got selected in lottery or waiting ? ?
    is there still hope for non ad, rp, ver?

    Reply
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    Reply
  23. Everyone don lose hope , some employers don lik to check with the check encash constantly so they don update to u accurately …. I would say its better to wait fr couple of days directly fr t receipt mail .Because thats wat happened wit me…. All t best !!!!

    Reply
  24. Still no update from my employer, no hopes after the notice from USCIS… Gonna forget and live in reality again…

    Reply
  25. Non-AD/RP/VT. Just got a receipt from my employer EAC-15***-***** !!! Directly employed by Furtune 100 company. I have been equally anxious as others in this forum until few minutes back. Stay calm and do not loose hope. We still have about a week to go.
    Seniors in the group,
    What would be the next steps after receiving lottery receipt ? A quick summary would be very helpful.
    TIA.

    Reply
  26. Miracles do happen !!! U can see my previous posts I was soo upset thinking I failed again fr t 2nd time . Fri I called and my employer told me my cheque was not encashed . But just now got a email that they received my receipt . I still cant stop wiping my tears . God din forget me after all the sincere hardwork and honesty.
    Am NON-AD/ RP/VT , 1 Single petition , directly after clearing the interview . I tried asking My employer , he din tell me about the cheque encash date .

    Reply
  27. NON-AD/RP/VT………..2nd attempt, still waiting. i think game over for me. any update today from Vermont………..

    Reply
  28. Non-AD/RQ/VT. just checked with the company and check is not encashed as of 4th may. with the announcement from USCIS, on 4th may, saying they have completed the data entry, does it mean my application is not through the lottery? anyone else in same situation?

    Reply
    • yes same here ..mine is Non-AD/RP ( Center I don’t know )
      Checked with Employer so cheque is not encashed so chance are very very less now

      Reply
    • dude, you just copy-pasted from a below comment!! can’t you even write one of ur own? anyways… tough luck, if the check is not encashed, its over.

      Reply
      • goodluck ,
        My comment was my own depicting the status at my end ,
        As there are many like me sailing in the same boat so chances are that status may be same at many’s end..
        Anyways thanks for your wishes…

        Reply

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