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H1B Visa 2015 – Frequently Asked Questions – Updates

Updated : Dec 9, 2014 (H1B 2016 FAQs )

H1B Visa 2015 season is over. Check below for H1B Visa 2016 Season.

Applying for H1B Visa 2016 ? Did you miss FY 2015 lottery ?

Check out -> H1B Visa 2016 – Start Info, Sponsos, Fees, News , FAQs 

Flash News Update  : 

  • May 5th : USCIS announced today that data entry of all FY15 H-1B cap petitions has been completed. USCIS will now begin returning all H-1B cap petitions that were not selected in the lottery. They have announced it on their twitter and facebook pages.
  • April 18th : USCIS announced that they will begin H1B FY 2015 premium processing from April 28th, 2014. Previously they announced that they will begin, ‘no later than April 28th’. They just clarified that. You can read on USCIS website  
  • April 11th : USCIS announced that it received about 172,500 petitions for the H1B Visa 2015 Quota. Read USCIS : 172,500 Received – H1B Lottery Summary 
  • April 7th USCIS H1B Visa 2015 Cap Reached on April 7th. 

H1B Visa 2015 – Latest News Updates , Articles 

Looking for H1B Cap Daily Updates ?  Check  H1B Visa 2015 Cap count Updates Page 

Frequently Asked Questions about H1B Visa FY 2015 

When will H1B Visa 2015 Season Begin ?

USCIS accepted H1B Visa 2015 applications from April 1st, 2014. They had the window open for 5 working days. USCIS stopped accepting H1B Petitions for FY 2015 from Monday April 7th as more applications were received than the required cap of 85,000 petitions.

What would be the Cap count for H1B Visa 2015 quota ?

No changes to the H1B Cap for FY15, the immigration reform discussions did not go through, the cap limit remained same as last year.

  • Regular H1B Quota : 65,000
  • Masters H1B Quota : 20,000
  • It is to be noted that 6,800 visas every year are set aside for Singapore and Chile Free trade agreement filings, which is called as H1B1 program.

Would there be lottery for H1B Visa 2015 ?

We had H1B visa Lottery for fiscal year 2014. USCIS received about 172,500 petitions for FY 2015 . Our predictions were right, you can read the article H1B Visa 2015 Lottery Prediction analysis 

How soon should I start planning for H1B Visa 2015 ?

[ Updated : H1B Sesaon is over for FY 15, plan for next year FY 2016 ] Well, there is nothing like too early… Getting a good H1B Sponsor can be a challenge these days. You need to find a job that fits your profile and find a sponsor that has a job for you.  Some employers want to test out the capabilities of the candidate before they plan to sponsor H1B Visa. Typically, they would like students with masters from US work for them on internship or co-op.  If they like the candidate then they will sponsor H1B visa.  If you are planning to land in US from overseas countries like India, it could be even challenging to find a good sponsor. Maybe you would need to work with global IT services companies and make your way up. It can involve lot of internal process to get the process initiated… You are never early…. Read Step by Step Plan to Apply for H1B 2015 

How do I find Sponsors for H1B visa 2015 ?

This is probably the most asked question.  It can be a challenge to find a good sponsor. We have written quite a few articles on this topic. The fundamental concept of finding a good employer does not change.  You can use our H1B Visa Sponsors Database  and search for sponsors in a city or zip code. Check out the above links under 2015 latest news and updates for the current year’s article to find sponsors. You can also, read our last year’s article :  How to find H1B Visa sponsors, avoid fraud 

What would be the H1B Filing fee for Fiscal year 2015 ? 

There has not been any changes in the filing fee for the past couple of years. It did not change for fiscal year 2014.  The  H1B Visa 2015 filing fee can range anywhere from  $1,575 to $4,325  based on the size of the company (number of employees ). Also, the attorney fee can range from $700 to $3000. If you go for premium processing again that is $1225.  You can check out the detail break up of fee at : H1B Visa Filing Fee Details – Who Pays for What ?  

H1B Visa Immigration Reform – CIR – Proposed Changes ? The comprehensive immigration reform has not passed yet.  But, lets say, if it gets passed, the below changes may happen.

  • Annual H1B Cap will be increased from 65,000 per year to 110,000. If exteme demand, it can go up to a maximum of 180,000.
  • The H1B quota for STEM degree holders from American Schools will increase from 20,000 to 25,000
  • H1B Visa fees can up to USD $10,000.
  • More stringent rules on H1B visa adjudication.
  • Mandatory LCA posting on DOL website for at least 30 days, before it is certified.

You can read Summary of CIR – Immigration reform – H1B Visa and Green Card  . We will keep you posted with updates on CIR and H1B visa changes for this year, if any. Did I miss anything ?  Do you have any other questions ?

Note :  Some of the below comments about H1B Sponsors are negative.  Please be aware that these are comments added by individuals of companies, competitors and many others that may hate such companies. We do NOT vouch for any of the comments made as they are not made by us.

Under federal law (Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act), our Blog RedBus2US.com is NOT legally liable or responsible for information posted by public, general users or third parties that contains remarks that are defamatory for a company or individual.

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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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23,888 Comments

  1. Someone mentioned that USCIS has started processing regular petitions too… did anyone from non-premium processing (Regular Processing) get any update?

    Reply
  2. Also, please inquire about your company policy on H1B receipt announcement. I know for a fact that some companies like Capital One have an understanding with Fragomen to announce H1B receipts after they have received the receipts or rejection packages of all petitions. Sometimes, they announce it in batches in order to avoid chaos in office.

    Reply
  3. hey, I got my receipt number through my school not my lawyer(she may be taking her sweet time to notify!) and when I check my status it shows the status on the ‘Acceptance’ circle. Does that mean I’m picked from the lottery?

    Reply
  4. Latest notice from USCIS – Begin prem procesing on apr 28 (for AD and nonAD). i was not selected last year. good luck to everyone. am waiting AD/PP/VT
    http://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-h-1b-premium-processing-begin-april-28

    Reply
  5. If you can’t see the comment on previous pages, simply check the box for email notification on new posts or follow-up comments. It’s just an alternative fix.

    That ways, you won’t lose out on the previous info and people don’t have to repeat themselves on what has been discussed in previous pages.

    Reply
  6. All the people who think their life will be over if they don’t get visa this year and will have to go back.. please read this before concluding anything.

    http://www.h1visajobs.com/article_h1b_cap_exempt.htm

    Reply
  7. 1) Tons of VT center info.
    2) Compare to VT center info, only a few of CA center info, especially the Non-AD/PP

    Why???

    Reply
  8. All of us atleast need to give time till next week end to get receipts.
    So best of luck for all in this forum .Hope we all get it 🙂

    Reply
  9. Anyone who got a receipt number from the Vermont processing center got their cases approved or at least uploaded in the system? Mine is an AD/PP/Vermont petition but not showing in the USCIS tracker, however couple of my colleagues have got their cases approved from CA today.

    Reply
  10. I do not have enough courage to check with my HR or attorney or even my school to see if i’m picked or not ! my heart keeps fast pounding when I want to go and pick up my phone.

    AD-RP-CA 🙁

    Reply
        • Pick up the phone and do it.
          If there is no -update ..that doesnt mean..you are not selected..
          These things update many times late also.
          Dont woryy..go for it..We need to keep trying things.

          Reply
    • SEVIS may or may not be updated. A lot of people receiving Receipts have not seen their SEVIS change. It’s not a very accurate predictor.

      Only actual receipt counts…

      Reply
      • Yeah I understand that.

        Dude I really do not have balls to check with either my attorney or accounting for the god damn check ! 🙁 what a terrible situation for my entire life.

        Reply
          • Thanks dude. Sometimes even a simple sentence like that makes me feel better. I hope you get it too and we celebrate together.

          • In a harsh environment like this, someone that dosent even know me and is not even from my country or school and etc. is encouraging me and giving me hope !

            sometimes in difficult situations someone somehow will come and gives you some hope. I guess I have to call it humanity ! At the end we are all human with same feelings more or less. something that sometimes is lost among our applications, SQL, C++ codes and our paychecks and we do not pay attention to it.

          • I know its a difficult phase but do not give up…..you will be fine…just hang in there… and this stupid H1B cant decide your future…you want something you do everything possible to get it…cheer up !

    • Same phase here.. But I guess it would take some time to get reflected in the SEVIS for us (AD-RP-CA). So I think its best to wait till next week to check with the SEVIS 🙂

      Reply
      • I agree. They just started issuing receipts to RP cases, based on random search in USCIS case status. So, it will take a while for the SEVIS status to change and it makes sense to contact DSO next week. Moreover, it will take even longer time for the snail mail to arrive. In my case, the snail mail will depart from St. Albans, Vermont and go all the way to San Francisco, California. Please relax guys and wait patiently. Hope everyone gets in!!

        Reply
    • Mike,

      If you were AD-PP, then I can understand why you are incredibly nervous because most of the AD PP guys in my university have got their receipts.

      But, dude you are AD-RP!!!! I haven’t heard about a single AD/RP candidate getting receipts. So, please wait until next week.

      Reply
  11. 10 board exams-tension for results (waiting)-2 days
    intermediate-tension for results (waiting)- 1 day
    b.tech-tension for results (waiting)-2 days-each semester
    Satyam offcampus-tension for results (waiting)-1hr
    F1 visa-tension for results (waiting)- 3hrs
    Masters each semester-tension for results (waiting)-2 days
    First time liked a girl-tension for results (waiting after telling I like you)-Immediate Rejection- No tension for results
    Internship-tension for results (waiting)-2 days
    First Job-tension for results (waiting)-3 days
    H1-tension for results (waiting)-7 days-Record break!!!!!!

    Reply
  12. Hi All,
    My HR mailed me saying they do not have any receipt yet for me. But they checked with their Accounting Dept and found that my cheque has been encashed. They say this could be an indication that my application was picked…but they will be 100% sure only if they get the receipt.

    I am AD/PP/CA by the way. And I did not get through the lottery last year.

    What do you guys say? Does encashing the check mean I should get the receipt this time?

    Reply
  13. So I haven’t got anything from my attorney yet but my SEVIS code says “change of status pending.” Does this mean anything?

    I’m non-AD, PP, Vermont. I don’t want to hold false hope but also heard this might mean something…

    Reply
  14. Is there any prediction when all will get to know the reciept no or return? I am just waiting for result no matter what 🙁

    Reply
  15. Hi , Any update on Non AD/Regular processing for Vermont or California? Not sure where my application landed: Work location IL.

    Reply
  16. Non-AD/PP/VT

    My receipt# is still not reflecting in the uscis website.It says ‘Case not found’.I got my receipt on Tue.Is it still the case with u guys whoever has got receipts from vermont center?

    Reply
  17. USCIS H-1B Premium Processing to Begin April 28

    On April 28, 2014, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2015 cap, including H-1B petitions seeking an exemption from the fiscal year cap for individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher. USCIS first announced that we would begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than April 28 in a news release on March 25. USCIS provides premium processing service for certain employment-based petitions and guarantees a 15-calendar-day processing time.

    Reply
      • Guys, got mine day before yesterday. It is a weight off my shoulders. I know another guy who got it day before yesterday. Thanks for all the info. Hope you all get it.

        Reply
          • “On April 14, 2014, we received this I129 PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER ” This is not “date receipted”. The date receipted will be written in the USCIS email when you got receipt # from them. And it should be April 10

          • KM,
            Compare WAC1413851159 and WAC1413851037. One has April 10 and the other has April 14. All cap-subject cases will have April 10 has the receipt date (even online).

          • How about this WAC1413350275 ? it si Aprith 11th ? not April 14th or April 10th ?
            I believe the “date receipted” has to be mentioned in the USCIS email. Not through the status check.

          • Km,
            That is non cap-subject case as well. Last year as well, all cases had the same received date online and I don’t expect it to be different this year.

          • Not really this is the real number. They got picked up this year and got email from USCIS mem. I confirmed that.
            If you said it is not cab-subject so USCIS is wrong ? or gave him fake number ?

          • KM,
            This discussion is not going to be productive. I am telling from previous year’s experience. We can continue to have our own theories.

          • So this year your observation from last year is not correct.
            So please don’t say anything if you are not sure 100%, for example “it is not cab-subject”. While it is a real happening right now.
            thanks,

          • @saurabh

            this means a lot of cases that have been processed in the last 5 days are not H-1B cap cases, which makes the count actually pretty low than even 3K per center.

          • Manu,
            No one can know the actual count on how many non-cap-subject cases are there unless one goes through each case status.

            In general, I noticed that the load at CSC was 1000-1100 cases prior to April 10. Assuming the count to remain same, one can remove 1000-1100 cases from the daily receipt count.

          • PLease don’t ASSUME anything relate to the receipt# if you are not own the #. You guys make every people so nervous – they don’t even believe their number is not real even they got it from USCIS this year.
            thanks,

  18. If u guys looked at last yr comments, u could see that receipt numbers for Non-AD/RP has started to come by Apr 22nd. Guess it will follow the same for this yr as well. Mine is Non-AD/RP.

    Reply
  19. Guys,

    Wanted your opinion on this article: http://www.vocativ.com/money/business/theyll-sponsor-american-dream-might-cost-soul/

    Reply
  20. Site Admin – I believe the comments section is malfunctioning again. Many past comments are not showing up on previous pages…

    Reply
  21. Guys.. Just chill. Unless your lawyer receives the package back from USCIS, you are still in the game. There is no point getting anxious about it.

    Also, to all those who keep on checking the random status in USCIS page, please stop it. It won’t give you your petition number anyway and unnecessarily you guys are panicking others.

    Keep calm.. Kanna keep calm.. 🙂

    Reply

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