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H1B Visa 2014

H1B Visa 2014 – All you need to know – FAQs

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H1B Visa 2014

 

H1B 2014 Cap reached on April 5th, 2013. Read : 124,000 H1B Visas Filed. Lottery Process
For this year FY 2015 H1B Info  read : H1B Visa 2015 – FAQs

Page Updated :  January 18th ,  2014

As USCIS is all set to accept H1B Visa petitions for the fiscal year 2014, many of you have questions on various aspects of filing H1B Visa 2014 like fee involved, lottery chances, H1B sponsors, Change of status, start date, end date of accepting H1B Visas, etc. This page will track all the H1B Visa 2014 News updates, Cap count information, FAQs, etc. Bookmark this page !  We have divided the page to various sub sections for your convenience.

FYI. Last year quota,which is H1B visa 2013 cap reached on June 11th, 2012.

 

H1B Visa 2014 News Updates

 

FAQs – All you  need to Know  !

Over the years, we have observed that prospective H1B visa seekers are always looking for certain pieces of information. We have grouped such information and created FAQs as listed below :

When will H1B Visa filing season start for Fiscal year(FY) 2014 ?

H1B visa filing season for fiscal year 2014 starts from April 1st, 2013. USCIS did a press release confirming the same.
How to find H1B Visa 2014 Sponsors ? Various Ways to find H1B Sponsoring companies
Finding right H1B Sponsor can be a very daunting task. There are few options to find sponsors like checking the H1B Sponsors Database and randomly contacting employers, working with IT outsourcing companies, looking at options in American Universities, Networking with friends. Each of these options are explained in this article :

How to find H1B Visa 2014 Sponsors ? Avoid Fraud

Why do we call H1B Visa 2014, when the petitions are filed in 2013 ? 

USCIS operates on a fiscal year basis instead of calendar year ( Jan 1 to Dec 31st). Its fiscal year starts from October 1st and ends on September 30th. On that lines, USCIS’s fiscal year for 2014 starts from October 1st, 2013 and lasts until September 30th, 2014.  So, though we file H1B petitions in April of 2013, they are counted towards H1B visa fiscal year 2014 and everyone calls it in short form as H1B visa 2014.

What is H1B visa 2014 Cap count for Regular quota and Masters Quota ?

If you are not aware of H1B cap count, it is the congressionally mandated numeric limits for H1B petitions based on category. Regular quota is for anyone who meets H1B visa requirements and Masters quota is specifically for students who have a Masters degree from US University. Typically, below are the numeric limits… ( we had these H1B cap limits set in 2004, if any changes by USCIS, we will update this page)

  • Regular Quota Cap – 65,000
  • Masters Degree Quota Cap – 20,000

Also, typically USCIS sets aside 6,800 visas  for Singapore and Chile Free Trade agreement filings, which is H1B1 Program. Also, read article All about H1B Caps – Basics Calculations, Lottery

 

H1B Visa 2014 filing deadline – What is the last date ?

Well, there is no set deadline as such by USCIS. They start to accept petitions from April 1st, 2013 and will continue to accept H1B petitions until the H1B cap (85,000) is reached. It can vary based on the H1B visa demand.

 

Will there be Lottery for H1B Visa 2014 ?

This is most commonly speculated question by many H1B seekers. Due to very high demand and hype for H1B workers, we had lottery in some of the previous years. But we do not know, we just have to speculate based on past data and economic conditions. As done in previous years, here is our analysis:

Check out H1B Visa 2014 Lottery prediction- USCIS Data Analysis

. You can also check out last year’s: H1B Visa 2013 lottery prediction 

 

What will be H1B visa 2014 filing fee ? Any changes ?

There has not been any changes to the filing fee for the fiscal year 2014. Check out the article : H1B visa 2014 filing fee – Who Pays for what ?. In general, it can range from $1,575 to $4,325 based on the number of employees ( this does not does not include attorney fee and premium processing fee).

 

International Students  – Can we do Change of Status ( COS) from F1 Visa to H1B visa for FY 2014 ?

Yes, international students pursing their Bachelors, Masters or PhD programs from US Universities, who may be working on OPT, can file a H1B Visa petition to USCIS with Change of Status(COS) option.  The advantage of COS from F1 visa to H1B visa is that you can continue to work after OPT expiration starting from October 1st, 2013 without leaving the country.  You have to do the COS before your OPT expires to maintain legal status in America.

 

How soon Can I start working, if I file for H1B visa 2014 fiscal year ?

One can start working from October 1st, 2013 , if you have an approved H1B petition. You may need to get H1B visa stamping done, if you file your petition from overseas and wish to come to America on H1B visa.. Unlike, if you are filing for a COS by staying in US, you can start to work without leaving US for H1B visa stamping.

 

What is current H1B visa 2014 cap count ?

The H1B season for FY 2014 will begin on April 1st, 2013. We will keep track of the USCIS cap count updates with analysis.

All H1B Cap counts will be tracked at :  H1B visa 2014  Cap Count Tracker .

In the mean time, you can check out our FY 2013’s  : H1B visa 2013 Cap count Tracker

 

Would you like to be informed about H1B visa 2014 ?

Subscribe for FREE H1B News, Cap Count updates below:

Photo of author
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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7,993 Comments

  1. FOR AD/RP APPLICANTS WITH NO SEVIS UPDATE FROM UNIVERSITY
    Hi,
    I had checked with my university on 18th regarding my SEVIS update. I was tensed and upset knowing that my SEVIS was not updated. Today, I received my receipt from employer.
    To conclude I want to say that there is a possibility that SEVIS is not updated immediately.
    So people who dont see any SEVIS update, DONT PANIC.
    Hope this gives you some assurance.

    Reply

  2. Got receipt # today, Regular Processing, Normal Quota, VSC. I know it start hurting now, but believe me it is just begining for Regular Processing & Normal Quota. I was not in mood to take tension till may 15. So please relax and just wait for your time. It will surely come up.

    Reply

  3. Friends,
    got my receipt today..my lawyer got it in a mail…
    Regular quota/Regular proc/Vermont

    Application Received date: 04/08/13 (not sure how can it be after lottery date 04/07)
    Notice Date: 04/17/13

    All the best friends…

    Reply

  4. Dear Friends,
    I just Received my h1b approval. Its Regular Process, Non-AD
    Best Of Luck everyone who are waiting.
    Mamun

    Reply

  10. Hi All,

    Kind of getting tensed now. My AD/PP clock has been stopped since April 15th and haven’t heard anything from the USCIS.

    How long does it take for the lawyer to get the notification if it is RFE?

    Reply

  11. Is there still hope for RQ/RP/VSC?

    I called the international office at my university to ask about my SEVIS status and they said nothing has changed yet.

    Reply

  13. Got Receipt in the morning. Regular Processing/ Regular Quota. Best luck to all. Dont worry All f-1 are getting h1b first this year.

    Reply

  17. I am RQ/RP, and still waiting.
    I contacted the international office today and they were saying something was pending and they didn’t want to give any more information and they told me to wait and check with lawyer (very unfriendly people).
    I am changing from CPT status to H1b. What does it mean to be ‘pending’?

    Reply

    • is it CPT or OPT? if you are in OPT and your SEVIS status is pending, then you are selected in lottery. status will be in pending untill your H1 is approved.

      Reply

      • I had OPT/OPT Extension and when I was finally ready to apply for H1b it was already late last year. So I started masters degree to work, using CPT. Once I have H1b visa I will be working full time (CPT only allows you to work 20 hrs). My company’s waiting for this results…… so if it’s pending I got selected? Thank God……lol

        Reply

          • This was a special case for only MS student. There are some schools which allow you to take independent study for the first semester (you have to earn credit for working off campus). I had to get departmental permission as well as confirmation from the company. I had a hard time finding this type of school nearby.

          • can u let us know the details of ur school. bcas generally, the school i studied wont allow till the completion of 1 year.

          • Is there a way we can work 40 hrs a week under CPT for the first year?

            Maybe go back for the same undergraduate school for graduate extension or sth?

      • Hi,

        I am RQ/RP, and still waiting.
        I contacted the international office today and they were saying something was pending and they didn’t want to give any more information and they told me to wait and check with lawyer (very unfriendly people).
        What does it mean to be ‘pending’? Does that mea I am selected? I am changing from CPT status to H1b.

        Reply

  21. Hi,
    This forum has been an immense source of support through the last few weeks. I just got my reciept number today morning. I am RQ/RP/VSC. It was sent by mail and my employer updated me.
    I understand there are anxious people waiting for their numbers since last few weeks, please hold on for a little longer and you’ll get to hear the good news soon.

    Best of luck to everyone with their reciept numbers and also final approvals.

    Keep it alive.

    Reply

    • Is it all over for Regular processing /Regular quota as one of our friend posted almost all the randomly selected petitions have been posted in Vermont centre.

      Please guys any updates for RP/RQ

      Reply

      • Is this a fact about the Vermont centre. I am in regular processing / regular quota and my application has been filed in Vermont. So far I have not heard anything about Vermont ??

        Reply

      • No, not over yet. For RQ/RP, this is the beginning. They started sending out for RQ/RP since last Monday and with snail mail, even if your reciept is generated on last Monday you’ll only start hearing from today and few got it last Friday. Say, the ones that were generated on last Friday, the earliest they can get to know their reciept is this coming Thursday. So, it’s still on. My best wishes are with you.

        Thanks

        Reply

        • @Evelyn – Can you please let us know following details

          1) You got receipt by USPS Mail or Email to Employer or Attorney?
          2) When was your receipt generated?
          3) Its series number 131xxxxxxx

          Reply

          • Hi Imran,

            My employer sent me an email. But USCIS sent a USPS snail mail to them.
            My reciept series is EAC13137XXXXX. So I guess, it’s generated on last Monday or Tuesday latest.
            I got to know today. Did that help?

            Thanks

  25. Will USCIS do any final announcement after sending all the receipts ? After which we can stop doing wait and we can know that we are rejected if we have not received the receipt.

    Reply

    • All:
      I think a much faster way to find out whether your case has been selected by lottery or not has been posted on this web earlier . no need to wait for lawyer
      Contact your university’s office of international students (different university has different name like OIA or DSO). Ask them to check your SEVIS status to see whether there is any pending change, your receipt number should also be there if you are selected!

      Reply

        • Oh.sorry. I think this way only applies for people who applied in USA F1-H1, or for the people who know their SEVIS # .

          Reply

      • @Godbless: I am not sure whether the normal regular H1B processing guys can check with SEVIS (I meant , I am not Student from US, I am general qouta from outside US.)

        Reply

    • JJ,
      No such announcement is made. If one didn’t make through the lottery, then the package will be returned within new few weeks.

      Reply

  26. Till now USCIS has completed 4876 applications .

    Start From EAC1313850001 to EAC1313854877 receipts. 🙂 So we have to wait for some more time for good news .. All the best my friends.

    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 😉

    Reply

        • What Naveen is saying is correct… looks like he took count from USCIS site only. U can’t find any recipt number after or before recipt numbers .

          Reply

    • Stop spreading baseless rumours. People are tensed out here. Please see below on the receipt numbering system –

      http://www.immihelp.com/immigration/decipher-uscis-case-receipt-number.html

      Reply

  27. should we call to attorney or they will inform us abt status……? bcoz saturday & sunday attorney off. closed how they did get receipt from them….?

    Reply

  28. Hello,

    Can we call to USCIS to check if our application( H1b ) is selected in the lottery? I understand we would eventually hear through regular mail if you apply through regular processing but just curious if we can do this as well.

    Thanks

    Reply

  29. California Service Center, regular processing, regular cap quota.

    We used a courier on April 1, but the ‘Received Date’ on the receipt says April 8 (I presume the day after the ran the lottery, which was Sunday April 7). The ‘Notice Date’ says April 17. We actually received the notice on April 20 (via regular mail from Department of Homeland Security).

    I imagine this means hold tight for regular processing folks (USCIS indicated 2-4 weeks to receive notice). I would suspect, but have no way of knowing with any certainty, that if you are premium processing and haven’t received email notification you’re out of luck.

    Such a bummer that there’s not a way to contact everybody regardless of lottery selection within the week — really stressful timing both petitioners and beneficiaries. And it’s sad that this process is literally a function of luck.

    Reply

  30. AD/RP
    i got my receipt 3days back then on 19 we submitted an app to change it to PP, on April19 it was initial review and 15 days for PP clock started , then it says …. On April 20, 2013, we received this I129 PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER and we e-mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case..

    any cases like that , im start to get worried now

    Please advise

    Reply

  31. is the receipt number the same as your current OPT #?? for example, is the EAC..# they sent you, your current EAC # for OPT?

    Reply

  36. Hi,

    My employer has applied my H1B visa petition on April1 , 2013 . Applied as a PP , employer got a receipt number . I just what to know what is the process to get a confirmation for approval. and when i need to go for stamping after approval.

    Generally how much time take to get confirmation for Approval in PP.

    Reply

    • just key in the petition # here https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do

      Since it is premium processing, your petition should get approved with 3-4 weeks max.

      Reply

        • Contact your petitioner, the person who applied for your H1B request will receive your Original I797 form(with in 10 business days), after that, your petitioner needs to schedule interview at VFS portal paying processing fee as applicable. That’s all you will get an appointment date.

          Reply

          • Thanks Man…

            Last question , Should we get the interview appointmnet in May or June 2013.
            Or it will start after Oct 1, 2013 only.

          • An interview date can be scheduled only with in 90 days of the intended start date. So, for an October 1st start date, the earliest you can go for an interview is July 1st. Good Luck!

  39. AD/RP/VSC

    received receipt in the noon from lawyer.
    Don’t give up.. Hang in there receipt is on your way…..;);)

    Good luck..!!!

    Reply

    • I just got an email from Fragomen that they received my receipt number by mail today. I’m AD/RP/CSC. It says it was received on April 8th and in initial review phase. So relieved! Thank you guys for sharing your experiences here!

      Reply

  40. Got the receipt today (Apr 19) from my lawyer. AD/RP/VSC. Receipt was mailed on Apr 15. My lawyer told me that they just started receiving RP receipts a couple days ago.
    Good luck to all of you who are still waiting!

    Reply

  41. Hello there.. I am an AD/RP/ Vermont applicant.. called my school today and requested the international office to check if my Sevis records were updated. They did and gave me the receipt number. Later in the day I also received a copy if I 797C from my lawyer. The notice says that the application was received on 8th April and the notice date is 12th April. Advance degree students who haven’t heard anything yet should definitely try and contact the international office in their school. I have to thank this forum for helping me through these extremely difficult 2 weeks. Fingers crossed for the approval phase. Good luck to all those waiting!

    Reply

        • Still you guys have hope of getting any +ve response, My petition is Regular/PP yet I had not received , I had lost hope one week back as Regular processing guys are receiving Receipt numbers(I think regular processing will be started only after PP applications has completed)

          Reply

  44. Hi everyone! Just got email from lawyer.. got selected in lottery! AD/RP/CSC..

    I am based in Chicago and lawyer in NY..

    Everyone..hang in there… receipts are on the way.. don’t lose hope

    REPLY

    Reply

  46. Hello everyone:

    I been reading comments on this site. I just got am email about my reciept number from the lawyer. I am AD/RP/CSC .

    Hope everyone gets it soon.

    Thanks for the help. Lets cross our fingers for the processing part now 🙂

    Reply

  47. Hi All

    I searched on net to check status on SEVIS..I got this uscis link my status has not changed can anyone try and see if they have latest record. If your school says there is a change of status please check here and confirm. I am reg process Adv Vermont and no updates as of now…. 🙁

    Reply

  48. Thanks for the person who informed about the SEVIS. It actually works. I called my DSO and got the receipt number. But the check is not en cashed yet.

    AD candidates, Call up you international Office and explain them about the SEVIS. Not everyone is aware of this. Even my lawyer was surprised to hear this.

    – Raj

    Reply

  50. I called up my school, and they told me that they have strict policies about disclosing the information and unfortunately they cannot share anything with me!!! 🙁

    Is there any else I can do to know? Any better way to put the question?

    AD / RP here.

    Thanks for your input.

    Reply

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