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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.

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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23,888 Comments

  1. Hi guys,

    I have been following our forum for awhile. I wonder what the difference between WAC vs. EAC on the receipt that you guys have been discussing. Does it make any difference from one to the other?

    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Does this apply to anyone?

    I got my receipt (notice date 4/15), but my OPT expired on 4/12. My school said they cannot extend my OPT to 9/30 in the system as my OPT expired before the receipt notice date… She was saying I can stay in the US but can’t continue working. Is this true? Did this happen to anyone? Is there a way to fix it? Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • H-1B petitions that are timely filed, on behalf of an eligible F-1 student, that request a change of status to H-1B on October 1 qualify for a cap-gap extension.
      Timely filed means that the H-1B petition (indicating change of status rather than consular processing) was filed during the H-1B acceptance period which begins April 1, 2013 while the student’s authorized F-1 duration of status (D/S) admission was still in effect (including any period of time during the academic course of study, any authorized periods of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the 60-day departure preparation period, commonly known as the “grace period”).
      Once a timely filing has been made, requesting a change of status to H-1B on October 1, the automatic cap-gap extension will begin and will continue until the H-1B petition adjudication process has been completed. If the student’s H-1B petition is selected and approved, the student’s extension will continue through September 30. If the student’s H-1B petition is denied, withdrawn, revoked, or is not selected, the student will have the standard 60-day grace period from the date of the rejection notice or their program end date, whichever is later, to prepare for and depart the United States.
      Students are strongly encouraged to stay in close communication with their petitioning employer during the cap-gap extension period for status updates on the H-1B petition processing.
      Please note: F-1 students who have entered the 60-day grace period are not employment-authorized. If an H-1B cap-subject petition is filed on the behalf of a student who has entered the 60-day grace period, the student will receive the automatic cap-gap extension of his or her F-1 status, but will not become employment-authorized (since the student was not employment-authorized at the time H-1 petition was filed, there is no employment authorization to be extended).

      Reply
      • But still I would suggest you to speak to a immigration lawyer as your application was filled before Apr 12th … Good luck

        Reply
      • good information.but i have little confusion see if you can answer it.M here on F1 with D/s status on it.(no OPT no CPT) and my course end date is november 2014 and so my I-20 expires on 30 november2014z
        Last year i done with master and after finishing enrolled in another course to maintain F1 and applied for H1 this year(AD/RP/VT) and got picked up now.i never took OPT or CPT.so my question is do i need to do anything now to balance my status.what status i will be from today onwards as its says change of status pending when we check SEVIS.by chance if H1b petition approved in june end or somewhere in july what will be my status and can i continue studying till october 2014 the start date of H1.do i need to process anything in this period from now to october???
        Thanks.

        Reply
    • You are eligible to work with Cap-Gap Extension until Sep 30, since you applied for H1B while your OPT was active.

      If youe OPT had expired on Mar 12 instead of Apr 12, then you cannot work until Sep 30 but you can stay here.

      Reply
    • Help,
      You are eligible for cap-gap and your OPT status should have been extended till Sep 30. At times, DSOs are not the brightest when it comes to immigration and not up to date with laws. Ask your attorney for help, who can provide you the actual text which you can then provide to your DSO.

      But to think about it, the SEVIS update for cap-gap is done by SEVIS and not DSO. So DSO doesn’t control when your status ends, but they do issue a new I-20 based on updated SEVIS.

      Reply
    • Whats the notice date on your receipt … where is your employer/lawyer located ?

      asking since I am still waiting on my receipt … my employer is Texas based.

      Reply
  3. Hello Guys,

    Just wanted share some good news… I received a call from my employer about 15 mins ago., he said that the check w.r.t my application has been cashed. He said it’s almost 99.9% confirmation that my application has been picked and we are waiting for the receipt # through mail. Mine is AD/RP/VT.

    Please check with your employers if the check has been cashed, if so you can get a sigh of relief.

    Hopefully everyone will get their receipts #’s soon.

    Good luck guys…

    Reply
  4. General Quota/Regular Processing/ Vermont receipt numbers shoul start coming in now.

    Have waited for a long time.

    I heard all RP/PP will get receipt by 28th April 2014

    Reply
  5. Hi Guys,

    I have applied H1B for 2015. I am waiting for the result. Any one got the mail from USCIS saying that application selected in lottery. If not any one got any news when will get the result.

    Reply
    • Hello Balaji,

      Where are you up to now these days? Lottery results are coming to end to also and you are asking now that whether they started?

      Which is yours Premium/regular processing?

      Advanced Degree/Non -Advance Degree?

      plzz go through all the pages to get to know what’s happening!!

      Reply
    • Yes,most of them it should be.i can say that after happening in my case.coz i am on pure F1 visa(No opt or No CPt) now and my I-20 is valid till november2014 and yesterday my SEVIS got updated by USCIS with receipt number on it with “change of status is pending”.even though my employer or attorney haven’t heard anything by today 11 am and just now i got call from my employer saying that ya its confirm because today they cashed cheque. So best of luck guys….

      Reply
      • hi Aryan, how can you apply for H1 without finding a job on CPT or OPT?? because of you guys people who are in stem OPT losing their carriers.

        Reply
    • check with your employer whether check has been cashed. This is the only way that your employer can say something.

      If it cashed then yes you are in!!! if not you can still keep hope as they are still processing receipts!!

      Reply
  6. What do you guys think about getting a J-1 visa if H-1B doesn’t work out? It’s good for 12 months and then you can transfer right?

    Reply
  7. I just got picked! Ad RP Vermont! For those who got selected Congratulations and for the others don’t lose hope! Wish you all the best!

    Reply
  8. Team,

    What options we have if we are not chosen on the H1B lottery. I have lost hope for my H1B receipt – Premium Processing – Bachelor Degree – Financial Analyst in Texas. Has anyone got the receipt number from Fragomen?

    Good luck to all of you…

    Reply
    • If your company has international branch or facility, you can ask them to transfer you over there and work for a year. Then you can come back by applying neither L1 visa or H1B again?( This is what my company proposed to me if I did not get selected in the lottery)

      Otherwise, you can come back to school to extend your stay in the US.

      Reply
      • My company has suggested me to work in another location outside the US. They asked me if I want to go to the London office for a year. Hopefully, there is less visa paperwork for London-if this does not work.

        Reply
      • TN,
        L-1 is not an easy visa. Although there is no annual cap, yet one needs to be working using employer proprietary tools, technology, applications, skills etc that are not commonly known outside the employer. So if someone is working on Java, manual testing, .NET etc then those are NOT eligible for L-1.

        Reply
  9. Do you think the Immigration Bill will be finally approved before the end of this year?. No way the increase in H-1B quota may have retroactive effects, right?

    Reply
    • If the bill passes before 01-Oct-2014, then the increased quota will come into effect with FY 2016 only. There will be no retrofitting of H1B quota for FY 2015.

      Reply
      • Dave,
        Actually the bill will impact the next fiscal year. USCIS fiscal year starts from Oct 1. So if it becomes a law, then it will impact FY-15 (starting on Oct 1, 2014) and hence the current filing season. However, chances of the bill passing before Oct are pretty grim. This is election year and they prefer to maintain status quo.

        Reply
    • Don’t count it…

      Congressional politics is slow, unpredictable, and tons of red tape. Most of the time nothing gets done in years. They’ve been talking about the immigration reform bill since 2010 but no action.

      Reply
  10. Anyone got receipt from Vermont. I got the receipt from my attorney two days back. I still don’t see the status on USCIS website. I also called them, they say the same. Anyone suffering with the same issue?

    For the guys who got the receipt, my hearty congrats. For the guys waiting, please hang in there. Good luck.

    Reply
  11. I can’t track my EAC number in USCIS site. Please let me know same thing is happening with you guys too ?? ..

    good luck to all who is still waiting .

    Reply
    • Same here. They are too slow but will do update online eventually. Looks like so far they have updated the cases till 12th April. Mine is 16th April.

      Reply
          • Not sure , as per the logic apart from difference of EAC and WAC the rest of the numbers should be same for both EAC and WAC , the last EAC receipt trackable is EAC1413254030 but correspondingly WAC1413254030 is not there , so my wild guess is that after EAC1413254030 the EAC are trackable as WAC.

          • Yes. I too tried to track the same case by changing EAC to WAC. It doesn’t show up anything. Guess they would update later.

          • jaimatadi,
            EAC and WAC numbers are entirely different and cannot be explained like that. A car has a California license plate 7ABC123 and another car has Nevada license plate 7ABC123. Those license plates are different, and so are the two numbers. Both follow their own sequence and are mutually exclusive.

      • you can check on uscis website .://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard/CaseStatus.do .Put the case number and you can see .Check date when they received most of them date APRIL 10th.

        Reply
      • In google search for uscis case status and check the site.

        WAC -14-143 -5 -0001

        The above is the sample receipt number..

        WAC means california service center
        14 means this year 2014

        143 means today , fiscal day number i.e., today(tmrw it will 144 and yesterday 142)
        5 is the common number and this wont change any day.
        0001 is the first receipt.

        Keep incrementing the last 4 values.

        WAC1414350390 is the 390 receipt of today

        Reply
  12. Do Anyone got receipt for Non-Ad/RP/Vermont ? My Attorney told me that USCIS has almost completed PP applications for AD and non-AD and severals are remaining which will be completed by 25 April .

    So Non-AD/RP and AD/RP guys ,Your receipt might be on the way.. Dont loosen up your Hopes..

    Reply
    • No hope left for General Quota/RP recepts to come from Vermont only little hope is there that Quota/RP receipt number might come from California..

      Reply
    • Dont loose hope …coz my SEVIS updated yesterday with receipt number on it EAC1413850*** .so it looks like they processed on last friday as we can see 14 is year and 138 is day of friday.but still they updated yesterday on SEVIS.and by now neither my employer nor Attorney have got receipt or any mail.only thing i was informed just before 20 min that its confirm that i got pucked up because USCIS cashed employer cheque today.so guys nothing is in timely manner in the sense of receipt number issue date and receiving mail.just wait and have faith till u receive a receipt or your package back.all the very best to all of you and god bless you all.

      Reply
  13. California still seems to be working and sending receipt numbers for Non-AD/RP but I think Verment Center people have no intension to send receipt numbers for General Quota/RP..

    As it is for last 2 days only AD/RP receipts are coming in..

    Endless Wait it looks like..

    Reply
  14. Is Vermont Center really working for Non-AD/RP receipts also,I don’t think so?

    All receipts are for AD/PP , General Quota/PP and AD/RP uptill now be it from California or Vermont..

    Heights of Waiting…

    Reply
  15. Don’t know when the General Quota/RP/VT receipts will start coming?

    I have seen only 2 General Quota/RP/CA but nothing has come for General Quota/RP/VT as of now..

    Reply
    • They just started sending receipts . I only see few guys may 3-4 got it.So we need tow atleast till may 2 week.So best of luck

      Reply
  16. Hi guys,

    I was wondering if receipt number will be processed in order?

    For Example

    WAC1413652968
    before
    WAC1413652969

    Thanks and good luck.

    Reply
  17. Anybody from fragomen still waiting? Anyone know if people received their receipt number from fragomen and work at a big 4?

    Reply
    • I’m from Fragomen and Big 4 and still waiting. Friend of mine also at Big 4 and Fragomen received her receipt last Monday (April 14th). When I emailed the paralegal at Fragomen on Monday she said she had not received any updates on my filing as yet but was still receiving stuff from USCIS. She did not specify if it was PP or RP.

      Reply
  18. Got the receipt no# from the attorney today…EAC14136…
    I was in the same situation but had started looking at Canada/UK. I found Canada a better option as they have preference for US master degrees and experience. You might get a better job in Canada with good pay.
    Good luck to all….

    Reply
  19. Hi guys,

    I was wondering if receipt number will be processed in order?

    For Example

    WAC1413652968
    before
    WAC1413652969

    and so on. my OPT expires on July and from what i heard i cant renew my drivers license until my h1b visa is approved.

    Thanks, and good luck to the ones still waiting.

    Reply
      • AD/PP Game is Over no need to wait for 3 more days. Just think about a plan B. All AD/PP case is processed infact USCIS will start working on them any time this week or from next monday for sure.

        Reply
  20. My husband and I have been following this website since April 1st….since this nightmare began. You know what’s really frustrating? Almost all of us are overqualified, smart and with assets that can not be found so easily. I am sure we can all write a book with the story we bring. Not fair to be part of a random lottery :(. With what we bring, we could help make this country so much better :(((( It’s just sad to be honest!

    Reply
      • Truly said….If we would have make our own country better, we would not have to leave that and stressed so much now while applying in this country… Unfortunately not everybody from home country are thinking like that…and that is why things not happening better over there…

        Reply
      • You missed what was important! MY COUNTRY is my heart . Who are you to generalize and point fingers? I am here because of my husband.
        THE MAIN IDEA OF MY POST IS: With or without this visa, We are all Lucky! WE will not only take home a lifetime of memories but also a degree for which the majority of us worked so very much. Which will qualify us to work in the best companies of our country or around the world. In terms of ” help make this country so much better” – I like to believe that I can make a difference anywhere I am.
        We need to focus on good an positive thoughts.

        Reply
      • Why you don’t stay IN your country trying to make it better, instead occupying a slot for who really wants to be here?

        Reply
    • If you are so much over qualified, why do you need to go through this anxious wait? You can go to any other country where there is simpler process. Its USA rules and you simply play by them 🙂

      Reply
    • I agree with your thoughts. Its the honest truth. Everyone here is overqualified, intelligent, with assets that cant easily be found and the desire to work. Its hard enough that we have even reached up to the level and have been chosen by a U.S. employer over millions of people and then we have to leave hopes in the hands of immigration who decides to do a RANDOM lottery pick. My employer is not gonna give me a second chance to follow through the process again next year.

      Reply
  21. I need to use CPT to work to connect to h1b effective date. I applied the CPT, today the international office issue the CPT to me.

    I didn’t tell the international office that I got a job and the company applied for h1b for me because I am afraid I said so, they would not issue CPT for me, then I would not be able to work from May using CPT.

    The International office didn’t mention anything about the SEVIS Status. Does it mean that SEVIS status unchanged? On Monday, I checked with the company, the check is not cashed yet. Now I am really worried.

    I am AD/RP/VT in Louisiana. Anyone in this area got receipt number?

    Reply
        • My International office is reluctant to disclose any information pertaining to my SEVIS status, asked me to contact my employer/attorney.

          Reply
          • Ok. I see. I don’t have OPT. So I didn’t ask the international office to check SEVIS status because i need CPT. I am afraid they don’t like the idea of using CPT to connect H1B. I submitted the CPT request last week, and today they issued CPT for me. My attorney told me if they have any information, they will inform me. I don’t see many AD/RP/VT got receipt here. So i think they are still processing.

        • omg I am in the same situation….i have an oppointment with my international office for CPT in one hour…i will update you if they disclose anything for me…..hope we get it…..

          Reply
          • sb, Did you tell the international office that you applied for H1B? Update the information after your appointment with the international office.

    • Pay Sullivan Fees ASAP. Make sure before Taking CPT ask other whether Sullivan is allowed to offer CPT What I have heard is whoever apply H1 with this school didn’t get success in Change of Status from F1-H1 in last year.

      If you not sure Ask School that how many applicant didnt get F1 to H1 last year and why?

      Reply
      • I am taking full-time classes in a legal accredited school. I took 2 semester courses already. That made me eligible to get CPT. The school didn’t want to issue CPT in the first semester. According to the rules from accredited school, only after you have a full academic year, you are eligible for granting CPT.

        Reply
    • Hey Sandra, I just got a called from my employer informing that my check got en-chased . Waiting to get the receipt number. Best of luck!

      Reply

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