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H1B Visa 2014 – All you need to know – FAQs

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. Hi Guys,

    Just got news from employer that the checks got en cashed ! Haven’t got the receipt number yet though. My application was sent to Vermount center, normal processing.
    I had given up hope.
    Please don’t lose hope. All the best.

    Reply
  2. waiting…
    RP/RQ California service center..
    Almost starting to lose hope.
    It is so hard to wait.Refreshing mails frequently and checking the forums…

    Reply
  3. Hi Guys,
    I’ve just received the golden email 1 hour ago saying that my H1B petition has been selected by the lottery. So please don’t lose your hope~~ My case is RQ/RP/CSC. Receipt# is WAC-13-142-XXXXX.

    Reply
  4. Anyone from TCS ? I got a mail now that petition was sent, but visa tracker had petition submitted on 29-03-2013. No receipt yet

    Reply
    • I received the same mail also send 12:30 AM.VTS shows petition was submitted on 29th March. Don’t know what is going on !! when the chennai team is going to update us

      Reply
      • Dont Know.Whats happening…Ur DM will have that list..check..i guess still not all the lottery selected list was completed to get the recipts

        Reply
      • I got a auto generated mail , and it is mentioned

        “your visa application petition has been prepared by Shared Services Group and sent to Onsite Team ”

        Chennai Visa Office has no information about it, they said its a auto-generated mail.t

        Reply
  5. J J Shiv Shakar Kanta lagay na kankar
    Piyala teray naaam ka piyaaaaa

    EAC1315050829EAC1315050829EAC1315050829 (AD/PP/VSC)

    It’s my pleasure to announce that I have received my EAC # today morning, I had already lost hope and was thinking about other things. But you never know when GOD hears u. I am so happy, I wish that I could offer one icecream to everybody in this forum.

    Duz duz duz, duk duk duk tadddd tad taddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

    Reply
      • Thnx bro/Sis, R u K2 mountain, K2 matches, K2 cigarette or what K2 u are if not among them??
        THey are still receipting people regardless of AD or non AD, just take a deep breath and pray to GOD if u r still waiting on the up coming good news. I wish u all the best.

        Reply
        • Thank you Siva. Definitely praying for good news. There is another AD/RP petitioner who called USCIS. Apparently their receipt was sent out yesterday to the petitioners lawyer.

          Reply
      • No e-mail but physical mail, the hard copy. It’s all luck bro. OPar BHagwan ha Necchay hum hein, u know what i mean. Just take it easy and pray like I did. I almost had lost my mind when i heard that my name got selected.

        Reply
        • Hi Siva,

          Congrats and thanks for sharing and giving us some hope.
          so today your receipt got generated and you got through mail (not email). Not sure how you got it very fast.. can you share your current loc and the mail come to you or to your employer and employer loc.

          Thanks in adv..

          Reply
          • I am in Oklahoma and my employer is in NJ and his attorney is from NY. They got mail on Wednesday, the 24th of April. My employer changed my process from regular to premium. And today I saw that happening.

    • Hey Siva, Congratulations ! love the part ” J J siva shankar..”

      I got to know from employer today that my application got selected in lottery too. I’m so happy and want to say one thing to all “picture abhi baki hain mere dost”.

      Dont lose hope, Godspeed !

      Reply
  6. Got the receipt Today. RQ/RP/VSC Eac13146****** . Receipt dated on April26. They are still processing . Hold on for another two weeks.

    Reply
  7. Waiting waiting waiting… RP, Non AD…
    Waiting for the consultancy to tell me check encashed!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Not to break your hope but people here have confirmed that packages are being returned, meaning data entry is done and all those selected have been notified.

      Reply
      • @Inaf: I am not sure if you are right. Please let us know your source of information. That doesn’t seem to be appropriate.

        Reply
    • Any idea – is the game over.
      I’ve strong feelings – that I will get reciept for sure.
      Waiting like many of friends on this blog…

      Reply
      • still waiting.. pls pray for me ..

        I am following this from day 1 and has no update yet on my H1 receipt number.

        My current employer is not doing l1 extn so this H1 is only hope for me to continue here.. not sure why I am not hearing any.

        Also, I am praying for all my friends who are in same boat ..

        Saw , some PP on VSC today not sure if they are still processing or what..
        This one is the last PP yet- EAC1315050816

        Please pray for me my freinds .

        Reply
  8. I really don’t get it, all my friends who applied for PP got their receipt long time ago, for me and those NON-PP, none of us has got the receipt so far…. what the hell is going on?

    Reply
  9. Hi, My wife got an update from employer that the check is encashed today. RQ/RP. So, still the processing is going on. I know it is bit difficult to wait for a long time, I would say not to loose hope till May end. Best Wishes to everyone.

    Reply
  10. Hi everyone… got a mail saying the check got encashed today. Have been waiting for so long to get this mail.. RQ/RP/VSC.

    Reply
  11. ATTENTION ALL

    We have just called USCIS and they say that they already began return packets. Others have also been told the same thing.

    Also, they say that ALL applications have been receipted And they are now dealing with waitlist. Those in wait list will be informed by around 15th
    Any PP or AD receiving recipt is bacause of waitlist.

    For RP, if you havent received, its only because your notice is in mail somewhere. So, Dont panic.
    If you are PP or AD, its over for now but hope is only in someone getting rejected.

    if anyone has received packet back, please inform us.

    Reply
  12. Hi All,
    Today got the receipt for my husband, it is WAC131415****.
    Thanks for this website, it helped to keep up the hopes.
    All the Best for all!

    Thanks Again!

    Reply
  13. Can someone please let me know wat is the expected last date for receiving receipt?also my US client said there will be no lottery for petitions file on apr 1st and 2nd

    Reply
    • @Deepak: As of now USCIS did not announce any end or cut-off date for sending reciept. But USCIS mentioned in their bulletin that all the petitions recieved from 1st April to 5th April will be and are included in the lottery process.

      Reply
  14. Finally I received the receipt notice yesterday from CSC. WAC131375****. I wish you all best luck for your future.

    Reply
    • EAC Means Eastern Adjudication Center… Vermont Service Center…
      Next step is to wait till ur application is processed and then u can schedule interview once the processing is done by USCIS

      Reply
  15. Hi Saurabh,

    I got mail from my employer saying petition selected in lottery.
    But I haven’t received any receipt number. what does this mean? Pease clarify

    Reply
    • Abhay,
      Ask your employer how they know about the selection? Receipt number should be received by employer/attorney within 30 days of being sent out by USCIS.

      Reply
  16. Hi all,

    I have been waiting for this since long time and yesterday i received a confirmation call saying mine was selected in lottery.

    I’m been process under general & non premium. I’m working for an indian company & processing thru some consultancy from US.

    Reply
  17. Is it like people who’s application reached uscis on 1st and 2nd April are getting the reciept number now or people who’s application reached on 4 th and 5th also got the number?

    Reply
    • As – not like that. My application reached USCIS on 5th Apr and I have received the notice on 29th. Receipt was gen’d on 25th and it reached my employer on 29th. please dont lose hope. As per my knowledge, still USCIS is entering data and gen’ing receipt notice, so it may take some more time to complete the data entry.
      everyone who has not yet received the receipt, please wait until May 15th or 20th and then decide. good bless you all.

      Reply
  18. Hi

    I received receipt from my employer today for AD/RP/WAC. Although the receipt was sent on 15th April by USCIS, it took so long to reach me. When I checked with grad school, my SEVIS record was not udated with any of H1 petition status. Looks like SEVIS will not be upadted until your STEM extension is expired or H1 is approved.

    Good luck for rest of the folks…

    Reply
    • @kumar: Congrats for your selection.
      Can you please contact your school again and ask for your sevis end date and/or any h1b receipt number added to your record. This looks strange as most of the people got their sevis updated once selected in the lottery. Please do this favor for the people waiting in AD/RP.

      Reply
  19. My employer has told that the cheque sent with my application is en cashed. So my appln is selected in lottery. How long will it take to get the receipt number after the cheque is processed ?

    Reply
  20. Hi All,
    I am RQ/RP. This is what my DSO told me “I can confirm that there is NO change to your record. It hasn’t recorded a WAC number for your Change of Status nor has the Cap Gap extension option been added to your record”
    Do I still have any hope?

    Reply
    • Congrats.!
      For regular processing, that is really a very quick turn around. Can you please share the Notice Date mentioned on the receipt, also first five numbers after VAC(xx xxx).

      Reply
  21. Is this end of light for AD/RP ?
    I spoke with my DSO and there has been no update on my sevis. Looking at the responses from the last 4 days, I have a feeling that USCIS slimmed down generating the receipts. Please let me know if there is an other forum going on discussing about plan B for the people who are not selected.

    Reply
    • I am also in the AD/RP group. No news so far. Interested in discussing Plan B. Guess its about time to start planning for alternatives

      Reply
  22. Has anyone recevied a receipt from USCIS for non-cap H1B petition (H1 extension)? My H1B extention petition was submitted on April 8, 2013 but I have not received a receipt yet.

    Reply
  23. I just got my receipt today afternoon from my attorney. Masters/reg processing/VSC. Received date April 8th, notice date April 24th.

    Best of luck for those who are still waiting.

    Reply
  24. Who said Infy results are not out. I am looking at these comments since last 2 weeks. I got my receipt from the GI team 10 days back. They have received applications and may continue to receive more. Sent on 13th April received by mail on 18th April.

    You need to have good contacts with the GI team. Just calling help desk wont help. They will play the recorded message that you have to be patient and results will be uplaoded in aims. BS

    Comment here if you need to know more!

    Reply
    • Hey Another One,

      Congratulations on getting your receipt!! But who did you contact in GI team to get your result? You are right, help desk keeps playing same tune again and again. I would really appreciate if you can disclose the contact person or number in GI team. I will provide you with my email id if you are ready to do so.

      Reply
  25. @Saurabh: Any hopes left for AD/RegularProcessing/California?
    Check not enchashed, No updates in Sevis, Receipt not received as of today

    Probably, I should ask my employer to call USICS. Should I still have hope or start looking out for other options?

    Regards,

    Reply
    • PatientlyWaiting,
      I would give it another 1-2 weeks before losing hope. The rate has slowed down and we may see only trickles in coming days. But one may remain hopeful that petition is there somewhere in USPS department sorting facility.

      Your employer can call USCIS but it may not help much.

      Reply
      • Saurabh… can u tell whether or not USCIS wait lists applications not selected in the lottery.. My case is AD/PP/CSC.. still without the receipt…… Everyone keeps saying that USCIS is generally lenient on people with advanced degrees but nothing seems to happening right now….

        Reply
        • Deemag ka dahi……,
          They select few more petitions to make-up for the petitions which will get withdrawn or denied. They use historical rejection rates in order to determine how many extra petitions to select.

          Reply
  26. Does anyone have any idea, whether we can know if the receipt number is generated for particular person as the case status does not show any name. I have a weird feeling that my employer is lying to me saying that my application is picked becoz he wouldn’t send me the notice of action but gave me EAC#. Any pointers would help.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Me too thinking on similar lines.

      Saurabh, can you help here please? Can employers fake receipt numbers just to satisfy us ? How do we verify this?

      Reply
      • I have the same question. Can employers lie to you saying the application has been selected and not give any receipt number?

        Reply
        • Not giving receipt numbers is even more suspicious. You should be pushing for a receipt number at least. But even with receipt number I am not sure how would one know its his/her case update.

          Reply
    • You can call USCIS and ask for the status of your EAC number. they will ask you details of your employer and also your name.

      Reply
    • Ask your employer for copy of 797C – this is the notice USCIS sends to the employer about the receipt number. The notice will have the receipt number, petitioner (i.e. employer) and the beneficiary’s name (i.e. employee).

      And yes, is is possible that there are employers out there who will make all kinds of stories including never filing the petition and they saying it didn’t make through the cap (and if you paid for your H-1, then that’s easy money for them).

      Reply
      • Thanks Saurabh,

        I spoke to my employer and he says they do not share copy of receipt as per their policy and he is assuring me that the receipt number he gave for my name is correct one.

        Reason given by him for not sharing receipt copy is “Employees can use them to proceed on their own application without company’s interference”…

        Does this make any sense?

        Reply
        • Same Thought,
          They are basically saying that you can change employers and go for H-1 transfer once you have the receipt copy. Actually, one can do that w/ just the receipt number but lot of consulting companies do not share it for the fear of losing the employee to another firm.

          If you can’t have the receipt copy, then it comes down to how much you trust the employer.

          Reply
          • Looks like I am better off trusting them rather than breaking my head over this one. Already have had an overdose of anxiety over the whole lottery process.

            Thanks Saurabh. You rock as always !!!

  27. My employer said, No receipt# on my application yet… but he conveyed like “but good thing is we did not get your application back also”……. did any one experience this message and noticed positive/negative results. Please share your experience.

    Reply
    • Hello,
      That’s not a message from USCIS. It’s a message from your employer to you. Your employer is basically asking you to not lose hope until the package is returned.

      Reply
  28. Hi , i just checked with my employer and my cheque is not yet encashed. I am RQ/Vermont. Any hopes? so chq is not encashed does it mean i am not through lottory?

    Reply
  29. Hi,

    i have applied for H1b PP this year. i got a REF to prove that my univ is certified as an institution of higher education as described under Section 101 (a) of Higher Education Act of 1965, (pub. Law 89-32), 20 U.S.C.

    has any one who studied in Startford University or any other got this kind of RFE? if so can you please let me know how you answered this RFE.
    USCIS asked me to prove the below 5 points, my DSO gave a letter satisfying 4 points, he told me that they cannot satisfy the 4th point as univ is not public or non profit organization.

    These are the points USCIS asked me to prove :

    (a) Institution of higher education
    For purposes of this chapter, other than subchapter IV, the term “institution of higher education” means an educational institution in any State that—
    (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who meet the requirements of section 1091 (d) of this title;
    (2) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
    (3) provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary;
    (4) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
    (5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of preaccreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.

    Reply
    • Listen Harry,

      Are you trying to apply for a “cap-exempt” H1-B visa here. – its a type of visa that is awarded to doctors/professors/scientists when they want to work for non-profit organizations (like hospitals) or public universities (in case of professors). For this type of visa, the college/uni has to be public or non-profit. In such a case the poublic or non-profit college/uni itself is the employer.

      Just check if while filing – Is there a marking on Form I-129 (Petition of Non-Immigrant Worker) with a “yes” answer to questions 1, 2, or 3 in Part C of the H1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement. ?? – If yes, its being processed as a “cap-exempt” H1B and your univ is required to be non-profit or public.

      Why is the Immigration expecting your college/university to be public or non-profit.??

      Reply
      • Hi mansi,
        Thanks for the reply, i have applied in 20,000 Masters quota. All universities should come under “certified as an institution of higher education as described under Section 101 (a) of Higher Education Act of 1965, (pub. Law 89-32), 20 U.S.C.” To come under this act they should satisfy all the below 5 points. Unfortunately my Univ doesn’t satisfy the 4th point and i was not aware of that. most of my friends who applied from same univ got approved. when i received the RFE i called my School DSO and they told me that they cannot satisfy the 4th point. Even my attorney was not sure who to answer this.

        (a) Institution of higher education
        For purposes of this chapter, other than subchapter IV, the term “institution of higher education” means an educational institution in any State that—
        (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who meet the requirements of section 1091 (d) of this title;
        (2) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
        (3) provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary;
        (4) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
        (5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of preaccreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.

        Reply
    • Harry,
      See my response in Q&A blog here.

      For the benefit of others I am posting it here as well. A person qualifies for AD cap only if the institution satisfies the criteria laid out in Section 101 (a) of Higher Education Act of 1965, (pub. Law 89-32), 20 U.S.C.

      Generally, for profit schools comes under Section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which doesn’t allow their students to apply under Masters cap, but under Regular cap. The school in question (Stratford) doesn’t satisfy the criteria for AD cap.

      Reply
  30. Hi , i just checked with my employer and my cheque is not yet encashed. I am RQ/Vermont. Any hopes? so chq is not encashed does it mean i am not through lottory?

    Reply
      • I’d suggest you to wait. Too much information is flowing in all possible directions. So keep your hopes up until you get a rejection notice.

        I was reading in a post that during the 2008 lottery one guy got his receipt towards the end of May.

        Reply

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