I see many people, who filed for H1B Visa 2020 season, worried about not picked in lottery, and some filed in regular processing wondering when they will get their receipts. In this article, we will cover below topics:
- How would I know, if I am selected in H1B Lottery?
- When will we know H1B lottery results for FY 2020?
- Timelines for Premium processing
- Timelines for Regular processing
- When will I get H1B Rejected Packages that were not selected in Lottery ?
- Is there any specific H1B Selection Process in Lottery?
How do I know, if I am selected in H1B Lottery ?
If you applied for H1B petition and were part of the H1B Visa Lottery, below are few ways you would know, if you were selected in lottery :
- H1B Receipt Notice Email – Premium Processing : If you filed your H1B petition in Premium Processing and if your petition was selected in lottery, then your attorney / employer would get the receipt notice of your H1B in email. The email has a 13 digit H1B Case number, that you can use to track your petition status. You can reach out to your employer to share the details so that you can check on the USCIS website.
- Regular Processing – H1B Receipt Notice – Physical Copy : If you have filed your H1B petition in regular processing and your petition was selected in Lottery, then your employer will receive a physical copy of the receipt notice in Email. The physical copy of the receipt notice arrives by snail mail ( post) and it can take time. The physical H1B receipt Notice also has the 13 digit H1B case number and you can use that number to track status of your petition on USCIS website.
- H1B Filing Check Cashed : If you get selected in H1B Lottery, the H1B fee cheque/ check that was sent with the H1B petition would get cashed. Usually, it is the check sent by the employer or the attorney with the H1B package. So, if your employer says, your petition fee check was cashed, it means you were selected in lottery. Also, on the back of the check, you will have the H1B case number, which is also the 13-digit case number, you can use that to track your case on USCIS website. In the case of Cashing of Check, there is no direct email or receipt copy, but rather your employer/ attorney need to check the bank account tied to the check sent.
- SEVIS Records Changes : This applies to only F1 Students in OPT or STEM OPT Cap Gap situation. If the F1 student, who is in cap gap, gets selected in Lottery, then they would see changes to their OPT end date in SEVIS, extended to September 30th. As a cap gap student, you can also see the OPT end date status update in SEVP Portal as well. For screenshots, full details, read STEM OPT Cap Gap – H1B Lottery Selected
When will we know H1B lottery results – Filed in Premium Processing for FY 2020 ?
If you have filed your H1B Petition in premium processing for FY 2020 season and if your petition was selected in H1B Lottery, then you are very likely to get H1B receipt notice by May 20th, 2019. Many Masters quota applicants for FY 2020 have already started to receive the H1B receipts and the process is still going on. The premium processing clock for FY 2020 petitions start from May 20th, 2019. So, you have until May 20th, before you can assume that you may not have selected in H1B Lottery.
Many users, who filed in premium processing, are asking online and worried that they have not received the H1B Case receipt yet. They are asking, if they can assume they were not selected in H1B lottery, if they have not yet received email H1B receipt notice…Based on our experience in the last few years, we have seen users getting H1B receipts until the start date of H1B premium clock. So, in a nutshell, you have until May 20th, before you can start assuming the worst situation to plan for backup.
Usually, you will see US Master’s Quota Premium Processing petition receipts coming in first, then you will see Regular quota Premium Processing petition receipts coming in next. Again, you all have until May 20th, nothing to assume until that date. Also, technically, until you receive a rejected package with reject notice, it is not 100% that your petition was not picked in lottery.
When will we know H1B lottery results – Filed in Regular Processing for FY 2020 ?
If you have filed your H1B petition in regular processing for FY 2020 season and if your petition was selected in Lottery, you will start to receive H1B Receipt notices starting from mid to last week of April and they will continue to come until early June. As these are sent by physical snail mail ( Post), there is at least week to 10 days delay from the date the receipt notice was generated.
You will start to see H1B receipt notices for US Masters quota first and then you will see receipt notices for Regular quota. The volume of regular processing receipts sent would increase after all the premium processing receipts are sent out, which is May 20th. There is no batch sending of all the regular processing petitions, USCIS processes randomly and there is no specific order in which they are sent. So, if you have filed in Regular Processing, do not get worried, if you do not see any receipt notice. You have time till mid June 2019 to make some assumption on the H1B lottery result. You will only know for sure, if your petition was not picked in lottery, once you get the H1B reject notices. Check out the below image that shows the complete Timeline of H1B 2020 Lottery Results in a nice picture.
Update : H1B Rejected petitions that were not picked in lottery were sent in mid August, USICS delayed that by almost one month in relation to our projected timelines based on past data as illustrated in below picture.
When will I get H1B Rejected Packages that were not selected in Lottery ?
If you were not selected in H1B Lottery, then USCIS will send out H1B Reject Notice indicating that you were not picked in Lottery…They usually do not send out reject notices for petitions not selected in lottery immediately, they are sent at the last. Usually, USCIS issues a news alert indicating that they have returned all rejected packages. Based on past history, we can expect it to be around July 30th, 2019. Below are the dates when USCIS returned rejected petitions for previous years.
- For FY 2019, it was July 30th, 2018.
- For FY 2018, it was July 19th
- For FY 2017, it was July 8th
- For FY 2016, it was July 14th
Update : USCIS announced on Aug 14th, 2019 that they have returned all H1B 2020 petitions that were not selected in lottery. Employers and attorney should return their packages by Aug 29, 2019. If not they can contact USCIS. See below:
What is the Current Status with H1B 2020 Season ?
In short, the current status of H1B 2020 season is illustrated in below image. The completed steps are as listed
- Preparing of H1B 2020 petitions
- Mailing them to USCIS
- H1B Lottery by USCIS
- Notifications of selected H1Bs, Approvals notifications
- H1B Petitions not selected in Lottery Returned
- H1B Petitions that were selected will be continue to be processed in the next few months.
Is there any specific H1B Selection Process in Lottery?
There is no specific criteria used for selection process of H1Bs in lottery other than the random selection of petitions based on the petition type regular quota or masters quota. Only the order of selection has changed for FY 2020 season. Read New H1B Lottery Process for FY 2020. Also, you may read 5 Myths of H1B Approvals, Processing
What are Next Steps After H1B Visa Lottery ? Process ?
If you have received a receipt notice from USCIS that your petition was selected, your petition goes through H1B processing for decision. Read Next Steps after H1B Visa Lottery – Decision Process Chart , to get full idea on the process. Also, to know more on how USCIS statuses look on their website, you can read Various H1B Case Statuses During Processing – USCIS
H1B 2020 Tracker – Crowdsourced for general Insights
H1B Processing can be very time consuming and frustrating for many as it is like a black box and we need to keep waiting. Having some general insights will help the community. So, we have put together a community to anonymously track your H1B Case or application. You do not need to enter any sensitive information, it is fully anonymous and used by many in the past 5 years. If you have filed a petition for FY 2020, please add your case and help the community.
[prompt type=”left” title=”Track your H1B Case” message=” Anonymously Track your H1B Case – Share and Get updated from Community.” button_text=”H1B 2020 Case Tracker” href=”https://redbus2us.com/trackers/h1b-visa-tracker/”]
Approval
Hi, I got my approval as of yesterday.
I am not under master cap, got picked in regular and my processing as well was regular.
But last week I moved my processing to Premium and got an approval yesterday.
So for those who have not heard after they got picked up , do be positive since people saying delayed reply means possibility of RFE is not always the case
Good Luck
Mine was from vermont
Cheers !
Can anyone know
What is the Name was updated in the USCIS website means ?
Read H1B Statuses Meaning.
Hi Kumar,
Do you know anyone got approved with this status ?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Many…don’t worry. These are just intermittent statuses and may not be significant.
My H1B was picked up and my company received a copy of receipt on May 29.
Today being August 5, do you think it can be approved any time now.
Are there any regular H1B applications which have been approved by USCIS.
Not necessarily, it may or may not have…ask them to share the receipt copy to track it online on USCIS website. Check with your attorney on the status. Yes, we had few users reported that there were approvals.
look like approves
Hello Kumar,
I haven’t heard anything from lottery for h1b. I want to know is there still any chance? What USCIS is does when they reject RFEs, whom do they select for those positions (selected in lottery but then denied h1b). Do they again have lottery or any random process to fill 65000+20000 spots?
Probably, no chances…USCIS usually picks about 12 to 15% more than the required H1B cap to factor in for the Denials. Check H1B Cap History to get an idea.
Any one received rejection letter?
Hi
My Receipt date is May 6 (California center). By when can I expect to hear back from USCIS?
Thanks
If it is regular processing, it can take anywhere from few weeks to months. You can upgrade it to premium, if you want decision faster.
Thanks for your reply Kumar. What has been the trend in the past years for AD-NonPP?
That is the trend, we have few users who got quickly, some waited for months…
Hello,
Did you receive any response from USCIS for your application??
Hi, anyone has the same question with me?
I got the update of ” notice of representation ” , what does this mean?
Kumar,
I hope no more chances to get H1B this year..I have only 8 weeks left to expire my L1B. My company file for L1A extension. What is your openion apply premium or regular processing. I am eligible for L1A..15 yr exp, Project Engineering Manager in a MNC construction firm
KC
Look-Likes, This year USCIS giving only 10% to 20% H1B Visa to Indians.
How do you know that?
KC
This is pure speculation….Don’t me mislead
Hello Kumar,
Do you know if people started received rejection letters?
Thanks
AHE
So far, no one has shared anything…waiting.
i heard from someone who already got their rejection letter
Well, so far our users have not shared anything…if you have details or copy of it, please share it with us…
unfortunately I don’t have a copy of it, their company applied for several H1b and some have been approved, some haven’t heard back regarding lottery and some have already received rejection notice.
well, would be good, if we can get a copy of it, will make it more trustworthy for everyone waiting.
Hi there, I still haven’t heard from the USCIS (regular application ) and I would rather not jump into conclusion before receiving anything. However, my current work authorization has now expired. Should I continue to work until I receive an official response?
Share more details on your situation like F1, OPT, H1B new, etc.
It is an application for H1B, from OPT. sorry for missing the detail.
Has anyone received rejection letter?
Hi,
Is there still hope of getting selected in H1B lottery? Whenever I ask my Employer, it says ‘Awaiting Lottery Status’. By when can we expect either selection or rejection.
Thanks,
Deepak
Same problem with my husband still not received any mail for rejection pr acceptance
I got the email about my H1B petition selected from the lottery. But my employer does not share the case number. How would I track the current status? Also when I can expect the approval? This is the non premium processing and non master quota.
Well, you need to ask him for that, otherwise you cannot track it. It can take anywhere from few weeks to few months.
Did you see anyone who filed under regular getting lottery results in June in the last couple of years ?
Not many…maybe few, few years ago.
I have applied for my H1B through the employer on April 1.
I didn’t recieved any notification from the attorney saying that i am picked in lottery till date.
So at this point is there any hope.
Well, the chances are very slim as the data entry is complete and mail should have arrived by now…
Hi there,
I haven’t heard anything yet from my employer or lawyer regarding a receipt notice but on May 24th my SEVP showed a profile edit by USCIS deleting a saved phone number and updating my employer profile with the same information. Could this mean anything?? I’m grasping at straws but want to know if I have any miraculous chance left. I’m Non-AD/PP/CA. The lawyers said they were waiting for official notices to arrive when last asked..
I have not heard anything about a receipt notice either and even my SEVP profile shows the same edit by USCIS on May 7th.
AD/RP
Well, odds are low…but, you never know…
I am NON-AD, Regular – haven’t got any receipt, no updates on Sevp portal. Did anyone get any receipt after June 1st?
Hi Kumar
How is it happening that regular applications are approved before premium processing.?
Just curious.
happy for those who got approvals 🙂
Well, they cannot just do premium processing only. They need to take care of all petitions…they give priority for Premium, but does not mean that they do not touch regular processing…
Regular-Regular: – my check was cleared on 07May still have not received the receipt.
Is such a delay of 4 weeks normal?
The attorney and Employer everyone is clueless about the receipt, please advise.
Can am expert respond on this pl
It could be that the mail is on its way. They would have seen a receipt number on the back of check, you can use that to check.
Are there still any chances for NON AD/RP/CA category now ? Check has not been cashed yet nor received any receipt.
Had Applied in Regular Processing. Have not heard back anything from lawyer. I think , very less likely that we got selected. I have very less hope now.
TG,
I am on the same boat. Don’t loose hope. My employer told me wait until Mid-June.
Regards,
KC
My employer told me the same thing! NEVER LOSE HOPE
Hi, same here. non ad, regular – my sevis portal is not updated as well….
Well, getting low…maybe about week to 10 days..
My employer applied my H1b this year under AD/PP. I haven’t heard anything yet from the lawyers. All they say is that they are still waiting for the receipt to come and will notify me when they receive any update on the status of the application. I am assuming I haven’t been selected in the lottery this year. What are the chances?
If premium, very less chances, almost over…
Hi,
My employer filed for my H1B for AD/RP. I am still waiting to hear something back from them…and they are not letting anyone know of the status( total 15 applications filled) … is it safe to assume that my lottery did not get picked?
Is there any way I could find my petition status? ( PS I still have 1 year OPt left so I cannot know by SEVP portal)?
Your employer need to tell you, no other way.
I am on the same boat no information yet. My employer is not willing to share anything with me . They just keep on saying that no updates on your case yet. I have the offer from different company but cannot join now as I am waiting for my H1B lottery results.
Hi Kumar
My case was picked in Lottery but on USCIS case website it says that they need more evidence. What are the chances for approval after that?
AD/PP
It is hard to give a generic answer, speak to your attorney on what they need and submit the same.
Are there any chances now for NON AD/PP/Vt categoery now ? or is it over? I see very few applicants from this category got the receipts till now?
Well, the chances are slimming down as we have about 10 days left for the mail to arrive, since the data entry is completed…
Hello guys, hope everything is going fine with you. I will appreciate if someone can help me to understand this e-mail that I received from my employer: “We got the receipt notice form the USCIS regarding our petition. Still waiting to get the lottery results within the next 3 weeks”. Thank you very much.
You should ask your employer to send the copy of receipt notice from USCIS, so that you can validate that you got picked in lottery and it is your case.
Hi Kumar,
My employer has filed my h1b in Regular/AD. I confirmed with them that the cheque is not cashed nor the receipt is received, till date. I see that you have recommended in general to wait for the next 2 weeks, after data entry. Do you think, cases like this still have chances or can we assume that its done and start to look for the other options?
Yes, it is the mail arrival time…Maybe I would say about 10 days left…again, it is approximate time for the mail to arrive. Once data entry is complete, everything is technically done…
Hi Kumar,
My employer submitted the AD/RP for me this year and they have not received the receipt yet neither has the check been cashed. If the data entry is complete, does it mean that the cheque has also been cashed if you have been selected in the lottery. Can I still expect the cheque to be cashed and my employer to receive the receipt via mail now even if the chances for that are low?
Well, very likely the checks would have been cleared….but sometimes hard to say…The chances are slim, but there are about 10 days to go…you should start planning for backups….
I’m AD/RP/CA and received email on 5/25 that my case got picked in lottery. FYI, in our team, I’m the first one who got picked among 5 petitioners so far. (3 of us are ADs) We are hopefully expecting a few more coming.
Hi Yuj,
Do you know when the cheque was cashed for your petition?
hi kumar
my employer has filed in AD/regular processing.i dont know my results yet can i assume it is not picked.
Well, you have about 10 days to go….start planning…
My H1b got approved on 23rd May.
AD – regular processing.
Which processing center ?
Hi Kumar,
What about regular processing??Shall I assume it is over for this year??
+1
+1 means..
Please respond
About two weeks left
Hi,
I have applied for H1B lotter AD/PP. Haven’t heard anything for my case. It’s May 24th already. Shall I assume that my case is not picked in lottery?
Thanks
Yes, very likely not picked…
Hi Kumar,
What about regular processing??Shall I assume it is over for this year???..
about 2 weeks left.
Hi kumar
My employer filed my petition under AD regular processing -VT .I am working in the same company for past 6 years and i hold a masters degree form USA.My friend told me my employer should have filed under regular processing as i stay in India.Also i do not know my lottery results yet?is this the cause of wrong filing.My employer told me once the data entry is completed you can expect the rejection letters.
No, that is not true. If you have Masters from an accredited University, you are eligible for Advanced degree quota. Yes, reject letters will start to come in the upcoming weeks.
Hi Kumar,
I talked to my lawyer/employer yesterday about my case and they haven’t received anything yet, and they also haven’t cashed out the check. I still have some hope but I think the chances are minimum right now.
How about the money, I paid the premium process fee, theUSCIS will give back all the money?
Yes, all the money will be returned, if your case was not picked in lottery. The only loss for your employer would be the attorney fee…
My H1 case was picked for 2020 regular processing , when i check the case status it shows an error however when i create an acccount on dhs website and check there it shows
“We received your case
You do not need to do anything at this time
We will let you know if we need anything else from you as we continue to review your case.”
Should i be worried ???
Where did you create your account? Can you share the link? I am also facing the same issue when I check my status and want to try and see if I see the same thing as you when I register
https://my.uscis.gov/account/applicant , create account and add your case , reply if it worked
Hey Vishnu, Thank you for the help. Its showing here that my case was received and no further action is needed. I guess thats a relief as I was scared why the USCIS case status portal was not updated yet for my case.
Thanks once again and good luck for your process.
good luck to you too
Did anyone receive any receipts post May 22nd?
My case falls under AD/non-PP/VT.
I’m still awaiting a reply but with very little hope.
Hi all,
I need some help. My H-1B was picked in the lottery. My attorney got a receipt notice with the WAC number. My SEVIS was also updated with the OPT end date to 09/30/2019. But, when I enter the receipt number in the USCIS Case Status Tool, it gives me the following error:
“Validation error: My Case Status does not recognize the receipt number entered. Please check your receipt number and try again.”
My receipt was generated on May 6, 2019 therefore, it has been more than 2 weeks. When I call USCIS, they are not willing to answer to my concern. Does anyone here have the same issue?
Same issue here. Would be interested to hear some thoughts.
Is anyone still getting h1b recipts for regular processing after the data entry is completed by USCIS?
Thanks
Same
Create an account and add your case here https://my.uscis.gov/account/applicant
It worked! God bless.
does the status say something like this “We received your case
You do not need to do anything at this time
We will let you know if we need anything else from you as we continue to review your case”
and did you inform your DSO ??
Well, as long as you have the physical copy of the reciept, you are fine…sometimes, the online systems are not up to date. You can ask your DSO to do data fix, by sending him a copy of the H1B receipt.
Hello all. My visa got approved yesterday. I received my lottery receipt on April 17th. Mine was AD/PP. All the best guys.
Cheers
What do you mean with AD?
Advanced degree (Masters or Phd).
I got a receipt notice that I was selected in the lottery on 4/12. I haven’t heard back about visa approval/rejection til now. Should I be worried I got denied?
It takes a long time for processing at times…sometimes many months, so just need to wait..if you are not keen on waiting, you can upgrade after premium processing is available.
Hi, till now I did not received receipt number, but 2 weeks back got a data privacy mail from my attorney.Is that a indication that mine was selected in lottery or just every applicant gets it?
What is the data privacy mail ? If you were selected, you would have got receipt notice from them, ask for the same from attorney.
My Employer applied for my H1-B for year 2020 under regular processing and I am under Master’s Cap but I haven’t gotten any receipt notice yet from USCIS. Is there still hope and shall i wait for official result from the USCIS for the lottery?? I even checked that my company checks also haven’t been cashed yet by the USCIS
Well, you got about two weeks left…
Hi Kumar!!
I got my receipt notice on April 17th, I got premium processing also, when should I start the countdown for the 15 days?
Thank you!
From May 20th.
Hi Kumar,My H1B got picked in regular lottery(Masters Quota ).I have upgraded it to premium .when should I start the countdown for the 15 days?
From the date, when USCIS generate the receipt notice.
Hi All
Any approvals or status changes For H1B-premium processing (2020) .
Thanks
As of today, 5/20/19, my government filing fee checks were not cashed. Mine is regular processing, does that mean I’m not selected?
Well, you have about 2 to three weeks left, if you filed in regular processing.
Can the checks still be cashed after the data entry is complete?
It is a possibility for up to two weeks…
I am a Master’s Candidate with Premium Processing. I haven’t received any update from my employer or attorney. It is already May 20th. Is there any hope of receiving it now or shall I assume that its not picked in the lottery?
You should be getting receipt this week if you were picked. If in a week or so you don’t hear back, it may be good to start preparing for plan B.
Yes, almost done…very less chances now…
Anyone received update from Wipro
Hello Kumar,
I read news on USCIS that they are done with their h1b data entry. That means if the check is not cashed out then it is likely to say petition is not selected. Is it true now?? .
You still have about 2 to 3 weeks. Basically, after data entry, they would send out final set of receipts and it would take couple of weeks or about 3 weeks max to get out all the receipts.
Hi Kumar,
I have one ques.Can you please let me know if your h1b is selected in the l ottery who should be the person get to know first ? Your employer or lawyer?
It depends on who filed it…whether the employer directly using in-house attorney or using an attorney agency…it goes to the one, who filed it.
Oh ok .Thanks . My lawyer filed it but my employer gave the check .Since the data entry is completed by USCIS ,I am wondering does that mean tye checks are already encashed? In that case my employer will know first ,because he can check his account and see if balance is cashed out.Right ?
The may or may not happen in sequence, if the check is cashed, your employer would know…but, if any communication, your attorney would know.
AD/PP/CA
I have also not heard anything reg my application. No email or physical receipt, no cashed checks, no update on sevp/SEVIS. Does USCIS continue issue of receipts for PP also until June or is that highly unlikely? I am asking since processing of selected PP applications starts on May 20. Thank you.
well, usually, you should hear by May 20th, if premium processing…
Is there still hope for AD/CA/RP ? i have not received any notice from employer.
Yes, till mid June.
Got email from Law firm today that my case was picked in lottery.
AD/Reg/CA
Receipt Date: 4/11/2019
Notice Date: 5/09/2019
Cheers !
Hello
My OPT expires on June 4th and I have not received a receipt yet.
My question is: Is it legal to work past the OPT expiration date if my application has not been officially denied/returned?
Many thanks!
Technically, your cap gap extension is automatic until September 30th, if you do not hear back or until you hear a decision. But, your DSO needs to issue your I-20 updated with that date…You need to update employer with the details of documents as listed on USCIS website for working in cap gap. So, work with your DSO…
AD/PP/last attempt, I have heard nothing about my petition, no check cashed, opt expires in last week of June(No change in sevis portal). Should I wait for a little longer before jumping to any conclusions.
Thank you
Start planning for the worst outcome, so that you are more proactive. We just had the data entry complete announcement. Usually, you should hear anytime in the next 3 weeks…
hi Kumar
what is the source of this timeline chart.Thanks
It is based on USCIS press releases history, past historical patterns from our experience from past 6 years….
Correction: Article specifies Cap Gap extends to Oct 1st. It extends only till September 30th.
Good catch ! I have fixed it. Thanks !
Non-AD/RP Got email from my attorney saying that my case was picked in lottery.
Which Attorney..? For which center
Got email from Law firm today that my case was picked in lottery.
Non-AD/Reg/VT
Receipt Date: 4/11/2019
Notice Date: 5/2/2019
Cheers !