Updated : November 25th, 2015
H1B Visa 2016 Filing Season Complete, Cap reached on April 7th, 2015.
Planning for next H1B season, Check out H1B Visa 2017 FAQs
As many of you know, H1B Visa 2015 quota was over in the first week and a whopping 172,500 H1B petitions were received in first week by USCIS. H1B Lottery / random selection was held by USCIS to select 85,000 H1B petitions to fulfil the work permit cap. Many of the unlucky ones are already wondering about next year H1B Visa quota. Also, some of you are planning for H1B visa for next year, you also would be wondering regarding the same. This article addresses many of the common questions, it will be updated constantly, whenever any changes to info. Bookmark this page ! To start with, firstly the news updates on this season, followed by many commonly asked questions.
Official & Unofficial USCIS News Updates Regarding H1B 2016 Season
- November 25th, 2015 : There is no special news as such, but we have our readers reporting that their H1Bs are still being approved that were under regular processing. So, if your status is stuck at one status, there is still some hope…
- July 14th, 2015 : USCIS released a note saying that they have returned all the petitions that were not selected in lottery for FY 2016. If you do not hear back from USCIS by July 20th, then you can contact them. Check Press note
- May 4th, 2015 : Data Entry for Selected H1B Petitions Completed
- April 14th, 2015 : Premium Processing H1B 2016 starts from April 27th
- April 13th, 2015: USCIS receives 233,000 for FY 2016 Lottery complete.
- April 7th, 2015: H1B Cap Reached for FY 2016. Summary of USCIS News
- April 6th, 2015: Guidance to file Second Petition, if Delivery Service Errors
When will the H1B season for fiscal 2016 begin ?
USCIS will accept petitions for H1B Visa 2016 season starting from April 1st, 2015. USCIS did a press release on March 12th outlining the details. Read summary of press release by USCIS on H1B 2016 .
Will there be lottery again for H1B Visa 2016 ? Predictions ?
We had lottery for FY 2015 and FY 2014. The total number of petitions filed for FY 14 were about 125,000 and for FY 2015, there were about 172,500 petitions… As H1B Quota did not increase for FY 2016, and the demand does not seem to decrease, we would very likely have lottery for FY 2016. Read H1B Visa 2016 Lottery Predictions, Dates, Results
What is the H1B Visa quota Cap Count ? Would there be any changes to H1B 2016 count ?
H1B Visa quota cap count is the total number of petitions that USCIS will accept for a fiscal year to provide temporary work permit for highly skilled workers. For the 2016 fiscal year, the cap count is as below :
- Regular H1B Quota : 65,000
- H1B Masters Degree Quota ( only US Degrees) : 20,000
- Out of the above, a total of 6,800 is usually set aside for Singapore and Chile citizens as part of the free trade agreement between them.
As per the press release in March 2015, the quota did not increase. To give some background, as per the Obama executive action in Nov 2014, no changes were announced to the H1B Cap count. There was proposal in 2013 to increase H1B cap from 65,000 to 110,000 and Masters quota to increase from 20,000 to 25,000 did not go through as of March 2015. At least, for this FY 2016 season, the quota is fixed and it will be as above and no changes.
When should I start planning for H1B Visa 2016 ? What are the steps ?
It depends on your situation. Below are few scenarios and your plan.
- If you are a student on F1 Visa in USA, you need to plan for your internship/ CPT or OPT employment at a company that can sponsor your H1B Visa for FY 2016. In my view, you should start now to find something for the fall 2014 and continue that for next spring so that you can file for FY 2016
- If you are in other country and planning for H1B, it is good to start your process around the end of this year 2014. It will give you enough time to find sponsors, search for job, etc.
- If you are on H4, L1 or other visa in USA and planning for H1B for FY 2016, you also should consider looking around end of this year i.e. December 2014.
We have published step by step plan, you can read the article How to plan for H1B Visa 2016 ?Step by Step Guide
Most asked Question – How do I Find H1B Sponsors for FY 2016 ?
This is a million dollar question ! One of the biggest challenges is to find a good sponsor that can offer you a job and wait for you to start work after 6 months of filing your petition. You should review the detail article on How to find H1B Sponsors for FY 2015. Your first place of start is to find the H1B Sponsors in an area or by company. Use our H1B Visa Sponsors Database to search and filter. Read this article on details on how to search in our H1B Sponsor database. We keep the database updated as DOL publishes data. Do NOT share your email or phone number on our website as comments, there are many people do H1B Sponsorship fraud by requesting money using your contact info. RedBus2US.com never provides personal guidance on H1B sponsors or seeks money from anyone, we only display publicly available data on our H1B Sponsors Database page. We DO NOT sponsor H1Bs or guide anyone. Beware of H1B sponsorship Fraud !
What about Comprehensive Immigration Reform ( CIR) – H1B Visa Changes ? What are they ?
There have been some proposed changes to the H1B Visa program to cater to the demand in the US economy as part of the Comprehensive Immigration reform. Below are some of the proposed changes.
- H1B Cap to be increased from 65,000 to 110,000 per year. Also have provisions to have it up to 180,000 in case of extreme demand.
- Advanced degree from US cap quota to increase from 20,000 to 25,000
- The Filing fee for H1B could go up to 10,000 USD
- Additional H1B rules to avoid H1B Visa fraud by employers
- Mandatory LCA posting for 30 days before it is certified.
These were proposed in 2013, but nothing has moved significantly and all the above are just proposed rules. We are not sure when they will be implemented. You can read Summary of CIR – Immigration reform – H1B Visa and Green Card to get an idea. The latest update is that Obama has taken executive action on Immigration in Nov 2014 and none of the below are included as part of that. Stay tuned for updates.
H1B Visa 2016 Fees – Any changes ? How much does it cost ?
There are various components of the fee. The H1B Application filing fee could range anywhere from $1,600 USD to $4,400 depending on the size of the company. The attorney fee can range from $500 to $3000 depending on the attorney. If you apply for premium processing that is another $1,225. The fees has not changed in the past couple of years for FY 2014 and FY 2015. Unless USCIS revises fee based on immigration reform, it should be same. We will keep you all posted. For complete details of the fee by components and break up, read the article H1B Visa Fees and Who Pays for What ?
H4 Visa EAD rule impact on H1B Visa 2016 Season ?
As you know, certain H4 visa holders are now eligible for EAD. The H4 Visa EAD Rule Passed earlier in 2015 and is effective from May 26, 2015. USCIS will start accepting applications for EAD from those eligible H4 visa holders starting from May 26th. The question is that will that have an impact on number of H1B petitions for this fiscal year ? It very likely will have certain impact on the number of H1B applications that are filed for this year 2016 quota. Many of the H4 holders, who would now be eligible for EAD, may not apply for H1B visa, just because it gives them more flexibility to work and more choices to work as well. We would have to wait and see, how much of an impact that would have, but it is very straightforward and no brainer for eligible H4 visa holder to avoid the H1B processing.
H1B visa Premium Processing Changes to H1B Visa 2016 quota ?
USCIS updated in their press release that the premium processing will be accepted for FY 2016 quota and they will only begin that “no later than May 11, 2015”. What it means for the petitioners is that the official 15 day premium processing clock starts from May 11th, 2015 and their petition could be adjudicated within 15 days from May 11th, which would be May 26th, 2015. USCIS can process them earlier as well, but their new timeline is just indication for setting the right expectations to meet the stipulated time frame for premium processing.
Track H1B Visa 2016 Cap Count updates ?
As in previous years, we have created a page, where would track the cap count updates for FY 2016. You may check out H1B visa 2016 Cap Count Tracker.
While you wait, you can check out April 1st – USCIS H1B Visa 2016 Season Starts Today, When to expect Lottery ?
H1B Lottery Completed – Official Tweet and Press Release
USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2016 http://t.co/fQ6EPUb8Y4
— USCIS (@USCIS) April 13, 2015
H1B Cap Reached – Official USCIS Tweet and Link to Press release :
We have reached the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for FY 2016 http://t.co/RTja7POWYY — USCIS (@USCIS) April 7, 2015
Any other questions ?
Trying my luck for first time..!!
Has anybody received any confirmation from Accenture…… I’m running out of patience here….
No, no updates yet.. Looks like PMSD guys will send updates by 15th May as they had mentioned in their last communication. Mid May.. Lets see:)
Source from Immigration girl.
Cognizant filed 12500+ H1B-NEW petitions. 30% lottery selection would be 3700+. So far, 700+ receipts emails sent.
That’s why GIT ask us to wait till May end.
Source : Department of labour – LCA data(google “lca disclosure data”).
Receipt email count guessed by last 4 digits from PDF file received.
Dhanush Sir!!!
It doesnt make any sense. you improved much after Shamithabh. 🙂
🙂 Do it yourself, Hope you know excel pivot…
foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/docs/py2015q2/H-1B_FY15_Q2.xlsx
Could you please let us know where you found that information on that website ? I dont see any information for Fiscal Year 2016.
If CTS alone filed for 12.5k applications then I’m guessing there could be a total of around 100k applications from the top 25 Indian IT companies.
233k application is from the entire world, it all makes sense now. NO wonder this number has been rising for the past 4 or 5 years given that economy is improving.
call GIMS support to know your status. They will update you if they have received your status.
True? U called global contact number?
my friend called and got the status
But y have u not called….?
How to check last updated date for LCA?
People,
Can any of you(people outside of US) honestly answer why you want to go to US? Let is be money, let it be career growth, culture, places to visit… or whatever. Just be honest in your reply as you are anyways anonymous.
I want to go to experience the culture.
For money and career growth. I never want to settel there in forgin land. will return after i make little money.
Ghanta some one will return after making a little money. It is not money, but the quality of lifestyle that makes people “settel” here in the US.
Hey Dude !! Perhaps, you are not to belonging to earth, belonging somewhere expect this planet. Do 1thing,roam there as you wish, gather lots of colorful experience in galaxy ; for this don’t need H1B or others. Once you will be back in earth, Willing to have your feedback!!! LOL!!! ..
ok , I believe that you only need to experience the culture, so apart form your basic needs what ever you earn in US , would you be donating it, Could you promise us here that you wont switch company for financial benefit after going there …..
Hi Guys,
Congrats who got receipts. Can I put hope till next week?
Till now i didn’t get any news but still i am confident i will get the good news soon.
If ur LCA info on myvisa portal has been updated recently that means you are selected and your receipt is on the way.. Unfortunately my LCA info was last updated in march which means I am not through.. Don’t know what to do now.. Darkness ahead of me as this was my last hope
Mine was updated by Apr 20th. So it means receipt is on the way…I don’t have hopes…
buddy , how do you know for sure ? they might have updated for rejected cases also right ? who told you this info ? GIT ?
Hi,
I did logon to myvisjobs.com tried to search with my company name and if i open any LCA not able to see any names. Can you please help me understand how i can see mine?
Why where to check this in myvisa portal? Shipping or Mailing Log?
Where can I see the LCA as you said? I did not recieve any receipt till now.
Guys from CTS,
this is my 2nd time.Till now no news.Last year ,after the initial 2-3 days of first receipt sending mails there wasn’t much receipts.Our chances now are .001%.My head says its all over but still I am hoping against hope..something happens to me..all my life I had been unlucky.
Wake up dude. LCA is mandatory for H1 filing. For those whose new H1 is filed, LCAs have been filed between Jan to March period. Don’t treat LCA approval as H1 approval and live in denial. Receipt number is the only proof.
Receipt date: April 16
Approved on May 7
Non-AD/PP/CA
Good luck to everyone!
Could you please let me know did they update this detail at one stretch? or you have been intimated about the progress on each stage? which company ? In Deloitte Bangalore – none of my colleague were informed on the status . Last status was H1b has been filed on April 2nd.
I just kept checking my receipt # online for approval after I passed the lottery round. I got my receipt from the lawyer, after USCIS emailed her. I’m not from India nor my company is Indian based. Gluck with you.
IBM guys any updates??? Don’t knw wht happened…no news cmng
No update after 28th Apr in IBM(Banglore)…
IBM employees with regular processing started receiving receipt numbers from Last … am still waitin for receipt number… 🙁
IBM regular processing started receiving receipt numbers from April 29th … people are receiving couple of receipt numbers everyday …
WIPRO guys any update from any CDC centres
No Updates from Wipro…. 🙁
No Update till now .. 🙁
No updates
Call Wipro GIMS support to know your status
First batch results came in wipro.Hope some people got.Don’t loose hope or get tensed.Wait till may end or June 1 Week.
Thanks Redbus2US,
My First Posting but going thru this forum daily.. It’s my second H1B attempt(unlucky in 2014) and got Receipt# today EAC…(for 2016).
Congratulations !! What time you got receipt ? From US IBM team or You saw in INSZOOM ?
Congrats. That denotes still doors are open.
what is ur receipt date ?
did u applied through IBM ?
Hello
When did you get the receipt? so IBM still has not finished sending out VT receipts.I am still waiting,don’t know what kind of approach they follow in sending these notices.
CTS-Myvisa site is under maintanance not sure wt is happening!!!!
no buddy ..Iam able to access ..what error you are getting ?
“Site Is Under Emergency Maintenance. Please try after some time”
That means they are updating the receipt no.. wait….
From when did myvisa start showing user specific sorry page?
h1bslaughteragain
Trying my luck with this name…:):)
Any updates from Infy? Did anyone got receipts today?
No update! This year very few got the receipts so far. Dont know if its game over 🙁
I dont think so. We will definitely get more receipts. Not sure why there is a delay!!
as per GI team, status is updated for very few people so far.
Yes… I am also waiting. One of my team mate got…This is my 2nd attempt. .waiting s frustrating. …. praying god everyday…. 🙁
Hey ,
Could CTS guys who havemt received receipt please check MY VISA ->Details/Dates–>View Case Details page – LCA info .. What is the Last Updated by date showing ? For me its showing May 07th and still I havent received any receipt mail .Could you guys please confirm and update here ..My head is bursting 🙁
What do we infer from the LCA updated date. …. Mine was last updated on mar 20???
Iam not sure buddy ..for me previosly it was showing last updated by as April 23rd ..I just checked today its showing May 07th.. but still iam to get my receipt 🙁 Dono whether this updation is positive/negative 🙁
mine is as of Apr 28
on that day, one of digital doc was uploaded by GIT.
Total Visa applied from Cognizant – 9000
Visa Receipts received until yesterday – 2500 (2 batches received)
Expected – 2 more batches (around 1000 – 2000)
Oh IZzzz It???? who told you this statistics?
there is no batch concept going on. peoples are getting receipts randomly….
I logged into our portal and got JS error. Does this indicate something?
🙂
Indicating your IE debugger on ON 🙂
Frnd..Which MNC?? 🙂
I debugged the JS error as per above friend’s advice in IE. It went upto “Please wait for lottery results” and stopped. Vow, it least code indicated something.
Trying my luck with this name…:):)
for Non-ad/RP application status, I checked with my employer yday, they said filed almost 100 and not heard anything abt them till now and they got some for PP only.
But here guys were really bothering, they got receipts for Non-ad/Rp, its really worrying me.
Trying my luck with this name… Definitely I’ll get it 🙂 🙂 🙂
Yes :):):):):):):):):):)
yes I too think and ur luck will be with u this time, all the best….
lolz…
These people have the experience of extracting free ice cream from poor vendor of mobile ice cream by rolling the lottery spin wheel at-least 100 times every day.
Done.. Good Luck All
My company told that my application has been picked up in lottery and they informed me on 30th April. I am still waiting for receipt number. It is almost a week now. Can any one tell me, normally how many days it will take to get the receipt number ? My application is Non AD/Regular.
I think it should reach ur employer in max 5 working days
for me it was 7 days
Thanks for your reply.
For me it took 10 business days to get receipt. Received on April 21st and received on May 4th
Ok. Thanks for your reply. In fact, i am waiting for the receipt number every day.
TCS’ers..
Have we started receiving the receipts..?? Or am i the only one who has not got the receipt..!! Enna koduma sir idhu…!!!!
Still how many more days, ISU RMG..??
Hi, No update from ISU RMG. As per 2014 release of 1st batch,Today we can expect,but again not sure!!!!
TCS guys,I checked with FDFU today.they told update will be by May 15
Did not get any such information from FDFU,when I mailed them seeking updates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Updates in next week,may be on wed
Hi CTS guys could you check in MyVisa->LCA Info(last updated section) as well as Show uploaded Docs link
Boss,
those all very old info/story.. please expect only the receipt mail from GIT..
I did check…..they have updated the Case # and uploaded LCA document on May 6th..does it indicates anything 🙂 ???
It indicates that your case manager was on leave.
No Receipts received for yesterday from CTS standpoint…..and as per the research/analysis ( 🙂 ) we would be getting the receipts until next weekend (CA for sure)….so don’t loose hope..pray god 🙂
🙁 teriible news… are you sure?
Cognizant(CTS) missing in the list?
2015 H1B Visa Reports: Denied :::
11 Tech Mahindra (Americas) 29 $71,313
12 Amazon 24 $111,858
13 Capgemini Financial Services Usa 23 $122,307
14 Sudhi Infomatics 23 $60,000
15 Cognizant Technology Solutions 22 $82,134
how come persistent systems did not received a single receipt till today? none of my friends got it.
does that mean game over for us?
Yes its over buddy… good luck next year
how much u paid to him for processing….
Thy r playing waiting game… bro
It gets worse even after getting selected into lottery…
One my ex-colleague is still waiting for stamping for almost a year now… 😛
Any updates from ELIPSIQ INC.
~93000 Visa applications from these 11 companies…God save us all who applied from small companies 🙁 🙁 🙁
Info is almost double of TCS!!
2015 H1B Visa Reports: Denied :
Rank H1B Visa Sponsor Number of LCA * Average Salary
1 Ernst & Young 195 $78,793
2 IBM 160 $81,620
3 Google 43 $127,274
4 Beta Soft Systems 43 $56,444
5 Venturesoft Global 39 $70,286
6 Deloitte Consulting 36 $96,409
7 Capgemini 35 $120,921
8 Igate Technologies 32 $69,103
9 Tata Consultancy Services 31 $88,745
10 Mastech, A Mastech Holdings Company 31 $87,513
The numbers that you see for each company is the number of LCA’s filed and not new H1B issued. So they include cap exempt H1B transfer, extension, location change etc. Not just new H1. So the same applicant will be counted twice if he changes job locations 2 times in the year
Anyone got receipt numbers (Regular Process)
Ya i got mine yesterday.
AD/RP/VT…
Congrats buddy.. Still i’m waiting..
At what time did you get your receipt
My employer told me tat my cheque got encashed on 29th April.
And i got my Receipt Num on 7th May.
have hope and believe in God you will definitely hear the good news.
Good Luck…..
Any hopes for Non-AD/RP/CSC since my employer has told me that check has not been encashed yet?
Anyone got receipt numbers (Regular)
Going by the comments made by people from different IT companies.
Ranking on Number of applications.
This time its
1) CTS
2) TCS
3) WIPRO
4) INFOSYS/IBM
And CTS guys are the most desperate too. 🙂
CTS has started sending the receipt details since 29/04 so everyone is concerned for them self. Whereas in case of other companies they have either not started yet and if have started than its couple of days back 🙂
Dude CTS rank is 15th…. Cognizant Technology Solutions NO of LCA:2,358
Any Update from HCL 🙁
It seems ISG is receiving receipts but they are not informing employees.
Expecting good, finger crossed
I have lost all hopes now. Feeling so negative??. Why is this lottery all dependent upon luck. God plz help us.
Anybody from Geometric Ltd. (IND) who have made it through in the lottery?
My onsite friends told me that they are still receiving receipts
CTS Friends,
When I check in my visa portal, on the left hand bottom earlier near my name earlier it had (CAXXXXXXX), but now it shows (BOCogntbxxxxx). Any idea on why did this change and? When I see the petition, it has got delivered to CA center on 1st april.
Checked. No changes in my case. Unless you tell a bit more clearly, I cannot comment.
When you login to myvisa, on the left hand bottom we see a code near our name in a bracket Name (xxxxxx). Earlier I remember it was (CAXXXXXXX) but now it showing as BOCOGXXXXX.. what do you have as a code near your name in My visa?
Me too have like “KBOCognto…” , it is a casenumber. Have you found any update in “Last updated by” field present in Department link of Myvisa portal.
where is the Department link
In “View Case Status Details” page , you can find the department name you belongs to.
HI ,
I see Last updated showing May 07th ..but other than that , no info ..Does that mean anything ..What is showing for you guys ??
for me also it shows that 7th with the person name who has done the update , It seems that the person updated the info belongs to Immigration or process executive
yes.. what does it mean?
No change in mine. That looks like Session id
Shall we assume whoever received receipts remains old session id (ie: BAAB…)
Its you Login ID too… Please check Personal tab also…
Anyone got the receipt from HTC Global?? Please respond!!
Hi,
Which domain u have applied for?heard they started sending receipts?r u internal or external?
External friend. But one of my friend got confirmation from HTC that his application is picked up. But he didn’t received the receipt number.
HTC is a fraud company they will never tell u the receipt numbers. Dont trust them and join at offshore.
@HTCFraud: Yes for my friend they didnt mentioned the receipt number till now.
Hi,
What domain u applied for.Heard they have intimated everyone who got through. All the best.Have u got?
I called the HR of htc today.he told they got some receipts so far and mine is not in the list?
I applied for data warehousing friend. But haven’t received the number yet. What about you? R u external or internal?
I just wonder why guys/girls who filed application for H1 are so desperate , even though they had job over there. I don’t have any disrespect towards the offshore guys but I am sure you guys will see the reality of ONSITE service managers.BTW I am masters guy and I know how students face problems here . The only way someone can cure this broken immigration system is to increase the quota especially for Advanced degree.
Hi Folks,
Any chance still there for RP/ Non AD?
Can we still expect any receipts or is the game over?
My employer says have to wait!!
Do we really have hope??
Any one got update from TCS??
Anyone from CTS received update?
god plz help……………..
trying our luck….using this lucky name!!! May my Hubby’s Visa get approved…!!
Anyone received receipt from Splendtek