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 ?
Hey guys..my employer told me they have filed my H1B. How do I verify as many of employee says that the employer always say so n does not actually apply H1..m worried ..is there any way where I can make sure that he isn’t lying
Ask you emloyer mail tracking number.
You guys shouldn’t take the lottery bad luck so tragically. It may be for good. I don’t know if you realize that this puts on a road for more pain. The current wait times for EB3-India is more than 10y and if you get laid off on H1 you have 10 day to leave the country. I know few guys on H1s who got laid off and had to sell their houses, take the kids from schools and clear the country in no time. It may be for good if you don’t win the lottery.
So true! Getting GC for indian nationals is a pain!
Latest – EAC1513654340
My Non-AD/RP, H1B application was filed, (not through a consultancy), and I am waiting for the results eagerly.
However going through some posts here, I wonder why am I seeing such pretentious behavior from some of the AD candidates, as if the H1B program only belongs to them?
There are Non-AD candidates who have achieved a lot more in life working hard enough and they deserve an equal chance.
I totally agree with you One-H1B-Application, Being in India, Its very hard get recognised, for H1B sponcering.
Is your application non-advanced and regular process.
Any application is deserving …but considering the fact that applicants from India continue with their life… but for applicants from the US, they might have to leave the country, find a new job basically a big change… apart from that i believe there is difference… and the frustration of this ambiguity for the applicants from US is making them take these statements.
Latest is EAC1513754501
Latest and last receipt till yesterday…EAC1514053212 and it is regular.
wipro guys,
any news from GIMS and anybody knows when GIMS started sending mails last years.
Raj April month end last year they started sending mails, but they will share immediately if they got recepits.
I remember GIMS guys share results in batches only.
It will be really good if they share the status immediately as soon as they receive receipts.
Good to see wipro guys here.
As of now no news.
I think only from next week we can expect
Yes NS, this is my second attempt from wipro, hope I will get this year.
Mine is 3rd attempt……. So excited to see the result….. GIMS wont share any untill May 2nd week..Because if they share the results in batches, rest of the guys will shoot alot of emails, Tickets to GIMS…….. This is year Wipro files 10,000 applications.. Last year it was 5000, out of which 2,500 got selected…….
I had a chat with GIMS guy this morning and as per him results will start flowing from May 2nd week onwards (officially).
Hi Guys,
My employeer told me that,They will disclose RP results after May11th.
Its killing me.. Wish I had applied PP.
Same for most of Indian companies.
My Friend got it yesterday, NAD/PP/VSC.
10 of my friends applied this year, 5 of them got, and 5 waiting for RP results.
Rp update
Any RR guys get the rec number please let me know if any one get the same
I’m also from Non AD/RP/CA. I haven’t received any update from my attorney as yet. Kindly update if anyone from regular processing does.
Hello everyone! I applied two applns .. One from my fulltime employer (Tcs) and another from a consultancy in India. Does anyone have an idea on RP/NAD dates?
All, need your help. When do we come to know the results for AD/RP/VT?
I have finished 2 years on L1 visa and now applied for H1 NonAD/RP. I applied casually but I am getting nervous reading the comments. I hope I am as lucky as some of the folks here !!!
Wht you mean you applied H1 from L1? Arent you satisfied with your fake Indian IT companies( Tcs, Infosys) ?
I work for the most popular search engine. Meanwhile, I wonder why some people don’t hold minimal respect for others.
The time on L1 counts against the max allowed on H1 so you get no benefit from switching, you are just taking the chance away from somebody.
That is not true at all. There are many advantages. He can change employers on H1, which is not possible on L1. He can stay a year longer in H1, assuming he is on L1B (6 vs 5 years total). There is no prevailing wage req for L1, and Indian companies typically pay you the bottom rung amount like 60 K. Last but not least, even if he applies for a GC, and has labor pending, or has an approved 140, L1 can NOT be extended for more than 5 years based on that.
Yes. I am planning to join a startup and I want GC extension. Hence the switch.
Any news from Amazon guys? did anyone get receipts or any update in case tracker?
i remember someone this morning itself reporting he got his and was from amazon i think via fragomen or something.
h1bslaughteragain hope you are the real one.. I am very silent on this forum since last three years… anyways any news on your petition… frankly I came here only to check status on original h1bslaughteragain.
Mine is non AD/RP/Vermont and yeah its my third attempt.. mostly if I don’t get selected this time I will hate US.
Hi guys I have applied h1 from india with regular processing …
when will we know the result for regular processing on lottery
Anyone with AD/RP/WAC? Still waiting for the answer. Any expected date?
hold on there is still a lot of time for regular processing..
Feeling lucky. Got email from my attorney with my receipt number. The e-mail was sent on Friday 8:09 pm and the Receipt date was 04/13/2015. My application was AD/PP/CSC.
Don’t loose hope
Hi H1B Gurus, Just wanted check if you have an idea about when the Non AD/RP updates arrive. Your inputs plz…
seems like we son’t have to wait very long. I think late wednesday or thursday they will start sending out receipt notices to selected applicants.
which center are you waiting for result ?
I am waiting from Vermont Center Non-AD/RP..
mine’s california
mine is also california nonad.No news yet.wait time is killing
Me too
+1
hang in there bro. I am non-advanced, regular processing. Last in order of preference
haha +1
Thanks man!
The wait is killing isn’t it. 😉
I am waiting too
Guys,
Can you share the receipt number from vermont with the date when you received it and if it was by mail or email?
It looks like Vermont are still sending receipts from last Wednesday…
Mine is EAC151345xxxx received today by email.
anybody want to join silk smitha consultancy in new jersey?
Anyone from Wipro got their receipts?
Any update from GIMS/OOC?
Got my receipt number earlier today from my firm’s lawyers – Fragomen. AD/PP/VT. Second attempt, last chance. Good luck to all.
Mates. My company cognizant filed my petition for regular processing. Still no lottery news. Did anyone receive receipt on regular quota
My lawyer said my checks are not cashed and sevis status did not change. AD/PP/CSC.. Is it done?
more patient.
Couple of friends received their receipts today. AD/PP/CSC.
Do you know what dates were the receipts generated?
Date Received: 04/13/2015
USCIS sent email on Friday at 8:03pm and my attorney sent it to me today.
AD/PP/CSC .. Don’t loose hope
Hi could you please tell us the date it was processed? Please
Hi,
I am Non-Ad/pp/VSC. today i got call from my employer that my check got cashed. may be by Friday i will get my receipt #.
Thanks every one.I will keep updated on details. Best of luck to everyone
Hi All,
I received my h1 receipt under AD/PP/VT today afternoon.I work for a fortune 5 company based out of east coast and this was my second chance in lottery . I luckily made through this time before being put on edge. There are few things I noticed fro my experience last year and this year.
– Most of the AD/PP receipts are issued before PP window starts but there are sometimes exceptions too.I know few friends who received their PP receipts in mid of may last year.
– Someone mentioned a crude way to know if you are picked in lottery by checking your SEVIS status. Post said if it shows status as Pending Update or something of that kind then you selected , if active then not selected. This is incorrect information as I called SEVIS to know my status today after I got my receipt and my Status is Still Active. I have got this verified for another SEVIS number of friend of mine who received his receipt today – AD/PP/CALIFORNIA today.
Guys do not loose hope! I know its painful but you will eventually sail through. Good luck to all! Best
congrats to u and your frnd, happy for you 🙂
Non AD/PP/CSC — Can I still keep hope ?
Guys any one from NJ area who received Non AD/ PP receipt ? Just checking if mails are being sent by area ? Eagerly waiting for my receipt. Hope god will bless me and make me get my receipt.
I am non ad/pp/vt, my company is in NJ and applied through Fragomen, still no news
I am non ad, pp, vt, my company is in NJ and applied through Fragomen NJ, still no news
My friend and me applied through same employer. NJ area
Non AD / PP / CSC -He got the news on Friday itself APR 17.
I am still counting
Well mine is Non AD/PP/VT so it is getting delayed and I hope even CSC is also processing PP receipts still. So hope we have fair chances to get the receipt. Lets wait till this friday and check this forum every day. Good luck guys…
applied on 2014 and 2015-no luck. this is my third attempt.Have not got any response from my employer.All my five years of hard work in US is of no use.Depressed!! 🙁
Dude, hang in there, you deserve it and you will get it for sure. I’m in the same position as well.
Can anyone tell when can we expect the receipts for Non-AD/RP/VT?
Should be until mid-May.
13th May.
Non ad/pp/vt…got it today
From 18 people in my team it seems only 6 of us got the AD/PP. Sad for all of us. Will try again next year. Hopefully will have some new reforms like increase in quota or no lottery for masters.
6 out of 20 in our company. All the AD/PP/CA
1 lawyer film said they received receipts for 50% of the AD cases filed in CA
Some other people said that most people in their teams got picked up.
Try next year. Don’t hope for miracles. Good luck! It’s not too late even for this year. Wait for one more week.
have just received email from the attorney with my Receipt Number,
AD/PP/VT..yay !
Hi,
Non AD/PP/VSC. We have been waiting for a H1 receipt number. Today we received a receipt notice and number for my son’s H4 petition. Does this mean my H1 petition has been selected in the lottery? I have not received any notice for my H1 petition so far.
I would appreciate your input. I not sure whether i can be hopefull or not
Thanks
Yes. You are also picked in the lottery. Without your H1, your son’s H4 would not go through. So the fact that you received your son’s H4 proves that your H1 got picked in the lottery.
Congrats! Good luck!
Anyone still waiting for AD/PP/VT.Please add +1. Is game over for us?
Game over buddy. Start working on plan B.
AD/PP/VT, last chance. If we don’t hear anything by Wednesday then it is game over for us. Sucks! It doesn’t matter how Gulti you are, how fake your resume is, or how many petitions you filed; if you don’t get the visa then whole point of being righteous and filing one petition with a fortune 100 company means squat.
Does anyone know where does Microsoft Fragomen apply? Cali or Vermont?
Also did anyone receive any update for NonAD/PP ??
California
Thanks for letting me know.. Did anyone from Microsoft hear anything yet?
Couple of my friends received their receipts today. They were AD/PP/CSC.
Hello guys. Hope you all are having a good day. I would like you to know that unfortunately one of our consultancy in Boston was closed and blacklisted by USCIS. We have appealed to remove the restriction but it seems like it will be a waiting game. Without wasting much I will get to the point. We are starting a new consultancy in Lincoln, Nebraska. Rathan Consultants. We will accept people from all engineering, computer and IT backgrounds. We will sponsor our employees.
Finally!!! Just received an email from Fragomen that I got in 🙂
Thanks a lot redbus2us, it is an amazing blog and helped me through some real tough times. This was my last chance, I had to switch jobs (actually went from a high paying job to a lower one just to get a STEM extension) but at the end of the day really happy now.
Guys like me (last chance) please don’t lose hopes, this year I was determined to remain positive throughout the process and it has really helped me in these days. I know it is easier said than done, but don’t lose hope.
Good luck everyone (time to party for me!)
Details:
AD/PP/VT/Fragomen-nyc area/
EAC151355****
Congrats. I am yet to hear from Fragomen.
Congrats! Im waiting for Fragomen Nj and nothing yet
Just heard back from Fragomen in NYC. AD/PP/VT (EAC1513652XXX). Missed the lottery last time, so was almost losing hopes this year but phew. Big relief. Abhi toh party banti hai…..Do not lost hope guys. There is still a chance. Its a terrible process and I feel much more for the AD applicants, who have invested so much money and time to set themselves in this country. Sucks that there is a system where a cancer pharma researcher can get beaten by a Java developer for work permit. But such is the system. Hopefully congress does something about it.
My opt will be expired on June 18th. I called DSO on Friday. They told that my sevis is “change of status pending” but there is no receipt number yet. what does it mean? My case is in premium processing.
h1bslaughter get it in lottery?
No pranks?
If the real h1bslaughter is around and seeing pl.s reply?
That’s me and no I haven’t gotten in
Advanced Degree Regular Processing applicants please Reply with “YES” if you got receipt notice.
Anyone from seyfarth received the news???? Desperately waiting fro the receipt
Did anybody hear on the regular processing non advanced receipts coming in???
seems like. California service center was slow in sending out receipts. Didn’t come across many there. It was Vermont’s turn to catch up
Saw some ADCAPP guy update and say that he/she got the receipt in mail and cheque was cleared. but no email.
Any one got receipt for Non AD PP Vermont for Oracle??
No I’m waiting still.
Do you know anyone in our situation got updates?
I sent an email to the attorney asking about the status, but there was no response ..
I have to say, the chance is low now, cause seems like uscis is inform H1b receipt by company, and many of my friend in oracle have already receive receipt last Tuesday. They are all PP AD
I have not received any proof from my employer that proves my application was filed.
I have paid for my H1B.
Is there any way to know that it was received by uscis ?
this message needs to be sent to USCIS
send it a$$hole…I dont give a fu ck
Paying for your H1-B yourself is illegal. Don’t put such a post on a public forum. You could get in trouble. In any case, you should refrain from doing this. Let the employer pay for it. Or else, just stay where you are.
It doesn’t matter… nobody knows my name…I mentioned that cuz you wouldnt be worried about it if you didnt pay for it ….in my case I did ..thats why I mentioned it.
Nobody cares to answer the actual question.
so what u’ll get back ur money if not selected in lottery
How many AD/PP/CA are still waiting, please leave a +1 below.
+1
did you contact your school, others please (excluding dev) respond to my original message.
I didn’t.
In our company they filed about 20 applications. 6 of them got their receipts. All were AD/PP/CA.
@Dev,
If only 6 out 20 made it your company, there is still some hope.
Hopefully this not the selection percentage for AD’s. Otherwise it is shocking.
Best of luck!
+1. Second time
+1
+1…. everything I did for the past 10 years here, about to go bust ;( so hard to make it through each day.
i know the feeling. Did you check with your school?
I didn’t… can it possibly happen at school first before my PP check (I wrote my own) even gets cashed…
Most likely not, but if you want closure then its worth a shot. Sometimes we like to hold to a hope so we dont have to hear the worst.
if you been here for 10 years (!), couldn’t you just apply for us citizenship?!
Not at all… F-1 student visa the whole time, there is no way to citizenship directly as a student from abroad.
gotcha! was thinking that u might have changed your visa in between, cos being on an F1 for 10 years is pretty a long time. but makes sense with bs, ms, phd, and some opt
+1
+1
+1
AD/PP/CA. second attempt. Do not have a plan B. very less hopes:(
people who applied and got more than 1 application picked in the lottery, you are making our lives miserable.
Looking at the number of applications, there should be few people, who filed multiple applications, still not getting through the lottery.
No one can file multiple applications until and unless they choose any consultancy.
Truth. I agree with you. But I see majority of them are from consultancies. I saw a post who said he/she filed 10 applications and got 4 of them picked. He/she made 3 others suffer!
I am a full time employee and will have to leave my job right away in July once my OPT expires!
Even I’m a full time employee. I thought AD will always have the edge and get through the lottery. Looks like life is good only when we choose wrong paths and get away with it
I feel the same.
I’ll pray for all and hope we get it. Hang in thr friends… Testing times but we will push through
Let’s wait for a miracle to happen and we get it this week.
+1
non-PP, Adv, CSC. Give up, ask employer to check if their check is cashed, and they tell me as of 15th, check has not been cashed.
Finally!!! My wife got her receipt 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 Picked in the lottery!! woohooo … AD / PP / VSC. USCIS has sent an email confirmation to the attorney’s office. EAC151355****
All the best folks!!
When did your wife receive the email? Ehats her cereipt date?Thank you
Thanks guys. She got the email today from her attorney. But the receipt date is April 14th. As some of them predicted VSC is sending the info only now even though the receipt date is almost a week old
Congrats!