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 ?
Is it H1B Lottery or H1B Quota? Seems strange that people from CTS and WIPRO are saying they expect to receive another batch of receipts. If its lottery then how come they are expecting more receipts if everyone says its over, the process is completed etc. Has USCIS cashed that many checks. What is the basis of their expectations?
Can we still hope to get more receipts from USCIS for the lottery. I am Non AD/RP/CA, single petition and waiting.
I am on the same boat as you. My attorney told me yesterday that, as of now, it is highly unlikely I got the visa. However, people seem to be still receiving the receipts. Does anyone know where we can get clear, up to date, and relevant information regarding this? This section just seems to be a place for jumbled comments
My wife work for Wipro (BDC) and she got an e-mail from GIMS about the lottery selection at around 6.00 PM. Hope this helps.. All the best to people waiting for updates.
congratulations to both of you 🙂
Hopefully they are not sending emails in batches else they must be done with it by now.
JMD !!!
Oh god please show some mercy !!!!
My Attorney saying that check got en-cashed almost week back but did get the receipt number. Any Idea, what could be the reason. Usually how many days USCIS will take to send the receipt number after en-cashing. My attorney doubled checked and its my check only encashed.
Is there any chance to reject the application even after en-cashing.
Some one, please help me in this regards..
I am also in same situation. I also got a call last week stating my application selected in lottery. I am also yet to get the receipt. I am checking with my consultant and hopefully I should be receiving the receipt by this week.
any one from wipro Pune, got message from GIMS?
Congrats to who have been selected.
Don’t give Up.. Hope is Everything We Have.
All Things Happen for Good.
I spoke with Global Mobility today
This is the info i got
They applied for 10K people, received for 2.3K, Waiting for some more batches
And one wonders why there is a lottery. 10 K apps from one company is ridiculous. It is high time they introduced a per company limit for new H1 applications. Let there be a strict selection policy / competition or even a lottery WITHIN the companies for those slots, which will be much better for everyone.
I agree. What a joke. It should be one applicant, one job. Simple. All these people with multiple petitions clogging up the works. 10k petitions? Makes me mad. I have had a solid job here in NYC for almost a year on OPT. Got my MA from Columbia, entered masters cap and it still looks like I haven’t been selected. The system is a mess.
They already have a quota within company.I could see that in my project itself .
how u telling there is a quota for cognizant, do u think those quota receipt not received yet
Hi, Just now I got the below reply from GIMS(Wipro).
We are not yet received you’re application status, we received only 1000 application status and we are expecting to receive more application status in coming weeks. As soon as we received we will update you without any delay. Appreciate your patience and support.
Thanks for the update.
from GIT :
We have received “almost” all petitions that are selected in lottery and few “not selected” petitions. Wait till May end for any further updates.
Don’t exaggerate. This is what GIT pop up says when we go to raise a ticket for status update.
Request you to wait until further notification from GM team and we just started receiving the receipt notices and returned packages (Not Selected in lottery). You will be contacted as soon as an update is available on your case.
I cannot see any such popup while opening a ticket.
My wife is in Wipro and she got an e-mail about the selection at around 5.15 PM. Hope this helps.. All the best to people waiting for updates.
Any recent update from GIMS…
It seems only Chennai and HYD people are getting mails..
be cool buddy….it seems they are updating on priority basis…..last year ppl got receipts in june also…
Mine is Priority-1 and I yet to receive update. Whether it mean that I don’t have hope?
Any one from MRCC got receipt?
It seems today also somebody from CTS got their receipt. So CTS H1B petitioners still see the rays of hope.
No one reported here for last 4 days… dont spread false news..
How do u know? Which team got it?? are der any chances for Non-AD/Regular/VT????
One of my friend in chennai CTS has received the receipt today , Just now spoke with GIT they said till now they have received & send 2500-3000 receipts , they are expecting some more around 1k. They asked H1B petitioners to wait till june 1st week. All the best to all.
oh.. ok.. cud u pls tell whether he belongs to vermont or california? is it possible to share his receipt no?
Did they sent all the receipts which was received as third batch, Did you Inquire about it?
Is the Receipt number updated in My Visa portal?
Is this True
CTS folks are all silent here and so is the GIT. Is there no hope 🙁
whenever we call GIT, they are saying we are yet to release a couple of batches?
Stats they are giving is also different.
As per GIT – CTS filed 10000 / 12000, receipts received so far 1700 / 2300, GIT expecting # of receipts – 5000 / 6000
God knows when will they receive / release !!
Haven’t heard any mails are coming since last Thursday.
Are they sending mails only to those who are selected? Is it over today or we can wait tomorrow too? Plzzz god.
According to my prediction, by May 19th we have to receive our receipt number if picked in the lottery. Can we except even after May 19th?
Is there still any hope for RP/VT?
No hope. You are not selected this year.
Hi wipro guys
plz share genuine information. If anyone got mail or status update in gims. All are still eagerly waiting.
Banglore wipro
Any one got receipt today?
Do not give fake replies Please
Yes, I got it around @5 pm.
Hi, I got mail from GIMS, Status changed to ‘Receipt copy Received’ 🙂
Congrats!!!
Can you share the portal link/path where I can check status.
Thanks
Hi.. Can i know the first alphabet of ur Name
Hi can i know the first alphabet of ur Name?
s
🙂
Friends
Be Happy, the GOD is there is to think about all of us 😀
God Bless All 😀
It seems wipro GIMS got first batch today..
Not only fingers, let us keep ‘everything’ crossed(hehehe) and hope for the best tomorrow. 🙂
Fingers crossed, hope this name brings luck to me 🙂
Hi h1bslaughteragainwpro, even my status is the same “Sent for filing”. Anyway today i don’t think we will get any update from GIMS. Let us wait till tomorrow.
Hi Wipro_chn , you are saying like this, but our Gilly_Wipro got selected… he is really a gilly…. 🙂
Hi guys, my team mate’s GIMS got updated. Receip received status. I am waiting for my turn. (CDC)
As BE fresher joined organization 6 months back.. he got lucky this time.. he got selected. But problem is he was still under training.
Not updated in my AIMS portal.
It is updated for all my colleagues. I am feeling so dipressed
When it got updated to ur collegues?
It was updated for them today only.
Do we get H1B processed if we file through cosultancy? i was kept in darkness in my current company for 4 yrs saying they are filing each year and they couldnt process it becoz NOT getting client letter?
so please help guys if we file through consultant in india will be through? or let me know the process please..
If there is no client letter, they cannot apply the H1B in the first place. They need to file a Labor condition before they can file the H1B. The labor condition is something that states that there is a project/position that needs a resource – this typically involves a client letter in case of consultancies. Only after Labor is approved, you can file a H1B. So if they are saying they are applying H1B since 4 year, but could not process it because they have no client letter, they have most likely been bullshitting you all the way through!
Got an update yesterday “Acknowledgement received from USCIS”…
This is my 2nd time… RP… File number WAC15********….
All the best for people still waiting… My friends are waiting too.. Hopeful for them… I am from Infy MNG.. Please raise an AHD if not yet raised, they might tell you…
All over for wipro folks.. if you don’t receive any email from gims means 99.99% rejected.
Its not rejected. Its just not being lucky.. this time.
🙂
My status still ‘ sent for filing’ . this time too halwa
Any one with Non-AD/RP/VT got any status update on petition?
Same here bro waiting 🙁 Non-AD/RP/VT
I have got receipt from 2 companies waiting for 3rd receipt though. or have to select 1 now. selection dillema 🙁 But they are not detecting multiple visa nominations for sure and didnt get RFP for both.
Its called RFE not RFP. Do you even understand the process. Got two and waiting for the third – shows USCIS is running a sham. Out of 58000 regular visas it is giving people like you multiple ones. Are one of the dumb AD people or you applied through illegal consultancies and still USCIS gives you the visas. Such a shame.
It seems some people In Infy have received the receipt numbers. I have not received any information yet. Any information if GI team has updated all the details that they have received so far.
When did they receive the number? Today or yesterday?
Trying luck with this name. Hope I vl get receipt
Any new update guys?
Anyone spoke to GITteam? can we expect any updates by today?
Hi Gilly_Wipro, You have mentioned that you received an e-mail from GIMS. May I know from which location you applied? E.g., B’lore, Chennai,Pune etc.,
One of my friend got his receipt from California center
From wipro Bangalore
My recipt number WAC1514XXXXX2
Recipt number WAC1514XXXXX1 -is RFE and Recipt number WAC1514XXXXX3 is approved.. only my number still pending.
When will i get approved.. i am planning to buy for Car and Home in US.
Congrates buddy !!! Wish you all the Best.
Hey All, I got an update from one of my friend from Vermont center. He just received the received the update from his organisation. NON-AD/RP/VT still have hope.
Thanks Vik. mine is NON-AD/RP/VT as well. Waiting eagerly for the receipt # :-/
Same here bud!
your friend last name’s first letter please?
Did anybody get receipt from California center that starts between WAC15148****** and WAC15152***** ???? If somebody received the receipt that starts as WAC15152***** then petitions sent to California center are done..need not to wait guys …Please anybody confirm on the receipt #???
Its valid logic to guess.
Guys, comment if your’re team mates receipts in above range.
For who dont know about receipt number format:
first 3 letters – EAC/WAC/etc – center code
next 2 digits – year (YY)
next 3 digits – Working day from 1-Oct-2014
next 5 digits – running no
I can see people whose receipt was generated on 4th May have received there receipt information before people whose receipt was generated on 29th April. Might be it also depends on your case manager.
Any update from CTS GIT team since last Thursday??
Haven’t heard anything in my project/BU/location after that.
Wipro banglore guys…..
Anyone got GIMS mail?
If so for which account
no update for me, still status as sent for filing.
no update in the ticket raised with gims as well.
dont know if its true that people started getting or not.
Heard they with start from tomorrow.
If anyone else get any update, Please do let know
as i have already posted. wipro employees started receiving mail from GIMS. they ll announce results on daily basis untill this weekend.
So watch out in portal and mails.
Any updates from wipro bangalore? Status is still “SENT FOR FILING” 🙁
Same status…………… 🙁
Sleepless nights…. going crazy………this tens killing me
Hope today cheque will clear in bank……. and I can have Dream full nights
dnt be so desperate .. keep faith however don’t die if you won’t get this time.
Thank u “GOD” to keep my spirits
Give ur blessings 🙂
Any updates from MPHASIS INDIA ?
Have been waiting from a long time.
Hi,
Heard that only California results are announced in wipro, is it true?
Guys………4th attempt is successfully for me. I got mail from Wipro GIMSa few mins back. very long wait….. Thanks to god and thanks to mom for all prayers…
Congratulations.
Congrats 🙂 🙂
which account, pls?