Home » US Immigration - Visas » H1B Visa » H1B Visa 2015 – Frequently Asked Questions – Updates

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. AD/PP/WAC

    Got receipt on APril 13. Does receipt number mean I was selected?
    Should I be happy or is it just a receipt?
    EAD expiring in 15 days time
    Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  2. I received my receipt number about 2 weeks ago. However, the USCIS website doesn’t seem to recognise the number-anyone else having this issue?

    Reply
  3. Hi Folks
    Today I got my receipt # from VT (EAC1414….) – Non AD/Regular- I would really want to thank each one of you in the forum for sharing the information, thoughts and encouraging each other- Please keep your hope’s alive…Magic may happen 🙂

    Reply
  4. Friends,

    Received my receipt today.

    VT/RQ/RP
    EAC14140XXXXX. Attorney ogletree deakins.
    This site has been helping me keep myself motivated throughout these days.

    good luck to all

    Reply
    • Congratzz!!

      @Keeping faith!, 140s are shipped today, does this mean 147/148 series would take another 5-6 days to be shipped to our attorneys?

      Reply
      • they must have shipped 140 series a few days ago…they don’t do “overnight” shipping lol….we should wait for 3-4 more days….

        my guess is, if we don’t hear back by end of next friday its “GAME OVER”

        Reply
  5. Hi I hope all AD/ non-AD PP and RP the best luck. I’ve been following this website for more than two weeks. Thanks for bringing us such helpful platform. You guys are awesome, and it’s nice we are the people here who care each other and emotionally giving each other supports. I have a idea to create a YouTube channel designated for all unlucky people who already have a life and job in the state to speak up. Every person upload a 5 second video to briefly state 1. Name 2. City you live 3. Your job position 4. State in the last sentence: “I will loss my job.” If we could have even just one thousand uploads and edit all together, it will be impressive and enough to make a impact. Put it on your Facebook or link it on twitter! It’s is for our lives and we need to fight for it. I believe we together can make a different. (I’m non AD PP)

    Reply
  6. Hi Guys – Does anybody get any success from Vermont center (Non AD/Reg) who applied through two different employers? haven’t got any communication from either employers 🙁

    Reply
          • Definitely you guys should wait forever…. but making use of this loophole you guys have taken another deserving person chances….

            No matter what, people do through difficulties, last year I applied only 1 application, didnt pick up in lottery, but I didnt want to apply through consultants and apply one more so that the chances of getting in lottery would be maximized.
            This year also I had a chance to apply through 3 employers, but I went only with one (1) and its my moral responsibility towards others as well. Everybody should have a fair chance of getting through. Not like you desperators who take advantage of this system and take other people chances….. Good that USCIS is finally tracking down this people and not giving them any chance.

            You work hard and achieve big. Dont take shortcuts….

          • are you saying i am any less deserving than others? I am already in US and i have not applied for 2 H1 through lallu mallu consultancies…i have specialized skill which is in extreme demand in US, both the companies which applied for my H1 are NASDAQ listed US based Tech companies (product companies not consultancies).

            If anything, the loophole is exploited by TCS Infosys etc which apply for BULK H1 with a blanket SOW from any random client….stop calling names to others…take your frustration out elsewhere….everyone is equally deserving!

          • and no offense but you really need an English 101 course before you even think of H1 visa! desperators? LOL

          • Hey mate. Feel free to pick out any English mistakes I may make. I do not think you are less deserving, but I feel you have robbed genuine contenders off a chance with your antics here. What if another employee, whose company too is “NASDAQ listed US based Tech companies (product companies not consultancies)”, has applied once and loses out – and let’s not deny this – owing to the multiple petitions of one employee out there? So if you think you can take advantage of the loophole because other companies out there do it in large numbers already, allow me to judge you based on that because, heck, judging is a common phenomenon in the world

          • Help me understand. What do you mean by USCIS tracked them?
            I truelly believe everyone who did more than one application will pay for their mischieve. When the time will come they will know what they are paying for.

    • my friends applied 2 to 3 petition with different employers and also know couple of people who applied more than one with different employers but this time i dint hear any one whose petition got picked who applied double i heard that USCIS able to track this kind of petitions with Passport numbers

      Reply
      • Its a Legal to file 2-3 application with different employer no problem at all but you can not file 2 application with same employer problem is if all get selected then if anything goes wrong you might face serious legal law suit or huge penalty from other employers whom you ditch to join by oct 1.

        Hope its clear to everyone.

        Reply
    • Why you want 2 Application? What if both get selected. You can work on a one h1b at a time you have to let it go other one. You are responsible to join their firm by October 1 that what your h1 contract with employer if you don’t do that and if they are not ready to take your reason then you will be in big legal problem.

      Make sure and pray so that only one get selected

      Reply
      • You guy’s think Lottery is the fair game to select H1b techie’s, This is Holy ***, god should save us…. Our fates are decided by lottery. I don’t think filing 2 applications isn’t illegal unless it’s specified by USCIS. That’s you guys mistake and talking shit*** like we are playing fair game. You think Lottry is a Fair Game.? Stop stupid discussions and make next plans and stop crying on others.

        Reply
        • Agree. Along the same line, who knows in the name of lottery, they are making hidden deals with high profile employers..ritenow whole process have more questions than answers…confusion everywhere! no place for fancy words like moral, fair, respect etc…all we need is the luck (regardless from where it is coming)!

          Reply
  7. I applied for PP/AD/Vermont and got my case number on April 15th. but when I track it online and by the phone it say: your case can not be found at this time in my case status.
    My employer called USCIS today and talk with one of the customer service, they say it’s normal and it takes time to upload the info. So we should wait! I hope all of us get our result soon!

    Reply
    • are negaran nabash. hame VT ha in masalaro dashtand. mesle inke dir be dir to web site upload mikonand. ishala hal mishe ama negaran nabash.

      Reply
        • dg as long as inke receipt # ro dari moshkeli nadare. Be nazare man bikhodi negarani chon man az Aril 1st daram inja ro har 5 min 1 bar refresh mikonam hame VT ha in masalaro dashtan. So take it easy.

          Reply
    • Thank you so much for the information!! I was pretty worried about that .. same thing is happening with me.

      Do you have any idea when do we get the approval by?

      Reply
  8. VT seems to be done today 🙁

    EAC1414851810 and most of them are not April 10th H1 cases…..any one received confirmations for EAC141485xxxx or EAC141475xxxx yet?

    another day….another story

    Reply
  9. Just received my receipt number from IBM. I am really very thankful to God and all my well wisher.

    My receipt number is EAC141405****

    Reply
  10. I still havent received any communication from my employer regarding the receipt number. Do I still have any hopes left? Non Ad/RP

    Reply
  11. I have two questions
    1.My employer told me that the check on my name is encashed, does that mean I am picked in the lottery.
    2.If yes by when can I receive my reciept #

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  12. Is any one from lucy liu & associates (attorney)/ MIND CRAFT TECHNOLOGIES (consulting company),GA got their receipt number. please post . I called the employer still they are saying wait for some more time, seems the every one getting the receipt numbers. Seems mine is not selected in the lottery. They said they will process my case under PP.

    Reply
  13. Just received my receipt number from IBM. I am really very thankful to God and all my well wisher.

    My receipt number is EAC141405****

    Reply
      • Do I need to call National Customer Service number? I couldn’t find Texas service center number. Thanks for your reply.

        Reply
        • You can call them but normally we have to wait 90 days from the day of application, after that either they change your status online or they are able to response your query immediately by issuing temporary card, it happen with my friend when he called after 90 days they said ” we need some time to complete your process and since 90 days are already passed we will send you temporary card till we complete the process”.

          Reply
  14. Hi All – I am a non advance, Premium processing case No receipt information yet. DO I still have any chances left?

    Reply
  15. Guys, I don’t know why everyone is looking at the USCIS website tracking and saying that receipts are generated. I asked my attorney and they said, receipts are already generated for everyone and USCIS is just uploading/updatinng the case status with receipt numbers now. So please dont mislead yourselves by thinking that the receipt numbers are being generated as you keep the track. They are just uploading the numbers. My only question being , are they uploading the receipt numbers to whih they have already sent a notification or uplaoding everything in their list?

    Reply
    • Yes right they have already generated receipts and updating in the system. But the thing is they definitely will not able to send everything at same time. So they will divided how many they need to send every day.

      Reply
    • i agree with you, but to the most part, we have not seen anyone on this forum or any other forum who mentioned they have received the receipt number for business day 147/148…so it kind of gives hope to people lol

      Reply
    • I disagree with your attorney Buddy.

      EAC-14-140-5**** says “Notice date” of 21-Apr which is 140th day and was mailed after 21-Apr. So it pretty sure that receipt gets mailed when it gets the sequence # on Mainframe system.

      EAC-14-148-5*** would get into mail today.

      Please share with your attorney and let us say what’s his thought.

      Reply
  16. I have applied H1B via two company’s . I am not sure which company’s H1B got selected in lottery. Anyway we can find out ?

    Reply
    • Same problem here!
      Received EAC no. 4/15/14 and Case no found in USCIS system till today.
      Attorney said it is a normal situation and we should wait!
      Hope everything goes well!

      Reply
        • Let’s see the possibilities for AD guys here.
          1. Selected in first 20k
          2. If not then – selected in regular pool
          3. If not he might be in wait list
          4. If not then get the packet

          So there are 75-85% chances of all AD guys get selected. So AD guys Dont worry. You all will make thru this time. Again this is for 1 application- if 2 employers processed you. You r surely thru

          Reply
          • I know for a fact that my employer filed, in AD/PP/VT. They sent me application copy for review. But it’s just been so long that the only thing I can expect is my returned packet. How soon before they start reviewing wait listed applications? And if the application is wait listed, do we get a receipt? Or there is no news on our case? Like mine?

    • Yes, those AD guys not selected in 20k pool and got selected in regular pool will get their receipts along with regular guys…so u still have lot of so called “hope”

      Reply
  17. I have been silently following this site
    my application is AD/PP at Cali Center
    I got receipt number on APril 14 since then my status has been in accepted. I am so worried since I have not received an update despite Premium Processing.
    Does this mean my petition was denied? Any ideas please!!!

    Reply
    • USCIS take sometime to update status. I mean the steps on the website. Now its acceptance stage soon it will go directly to decision or some time its possible to go RFE. so just wait they will take time you have time till May 12 they will update.
      so best of luck 🙂

      Reply
  18. “Curious” comment may be true. Any one who got the receipt today/yesterday can update the Firstname Lastname therefore we can identify the sequence of alphabetical order where it has reached?

    Reply
  19. RP/NAD
    My employer “hexaware” says it will take a month from now to get the status. I dont know how will i spend the entire time waiting. How can they be so absurd by setting this expectation ;-(. Any advise on how to get the status from them earlier?

    Reply
  20. Any more hopes left for AD/Regular processing from Vermont … Check for my applications has not been cashed nor there is any update on my SEVIS …

    Reply
  21. Latest number: EAC1414851404
    Going too fast…seems updating the date with some batch file running in the back-end 🙂

    Reply
  22. I though about the receipt # and Firstname,Lastname of some of the colleagues I know:
    Looks like receipt #s generated in alphabetical order of FirstName, LastName in each category (i.e. AD-PP, AD-Reg, NonAD-PP and NonAD-Reg).

    Think about it and comment!

    Reply
    • I dont think this is true. My receipt number is within the first 500 generated for that processing day and my last name starts with a V.

      Reply
  23. Thank you so much to this wonderful site.
    Yesterday got the receipt:
    NON AD/RP/VT
    God bless you all.. never lose hope!!!

    Reply
  24. @SaiSri,

    If we were selected, by this time our cheques should be encashed right?
    assuming it will take 2 weeks from now to receive the receipts by our employer/attorney.

    Reply
    • Not sure how many days before check will be enchased.Some one in the forum said there attorney told they are sending around 3oo receipts daily.So if thats the case then it will take time to send all the receipts.

      Reply
        • I mean some one in the forum said that there attorney told that it will take time .we should wait atleast 2 weeks. Same from my employer. It will be clear by may 2nd week about the chances . After that the chances are very less.For regular people you get by mail has now i have seen it WAC14144 series receipt in this form . They generated receipts on wac141445,146,147,.So we should wait and hope for the best

          Reply

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