Home » US Immigration - Visas » H1B Visa » H1B Visa 2016 – FAQs – Lottery, Quota, Immigration Reform, News

H1B Visa 2016 – FAQs – Lottery, Quota, Immigration Reform, News

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 

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 

H1B Cap Reached – Official USCIS Tweet and Link to Press release :


Any other questions ?

Photo of author
Satheesh Kumar Ilu, commonly known as Kumar, is the founder of RedBus2US.com. He is an Immigration and Study Abroad expert. He holds an MS from the University of Houston–Clear Lake and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He studied, lived, and worked in the U.S. and Singapore for nearly two decades, and has traveled to over 25 countries.

   

Other Articles

28,610 Comments

  1. Any news/updates from OOC/GIMS?
    I think all companies start to send some info to employee; i dont know why we didnt getting any info yet?

    Reply
  2. USCIS has “wait-listed” some H-1B petitions, meaning they may possibly replace petitions chosen to receive an FY-2009 cap number, but that subsequently are denied, withdrawn, or otherwise found ineligible. USCIS will retain these petitions until a decision is made whether they will replace a previously selected petition. USCIS will send a letter to the wait list petitioners to inform them of their status

    “http://www.uscis.gov/archive/archive-news/uscis-runs-random-selection-process-h-1b-petitions”

    Reply
  3. Anybody getting this message?

    “At this time USCIS cannot provide you with information for your case. Please contact the NCSC 1 (800) 375-5283 for additional information.”..

    Reply
  4. **Guys update, my school told me i have a receipt number but it is a LIN number which seems like my receipt number from my OPT STEM that was approved a while back**
    So does that mean it was a simple CAP GAP while my case is going through the lottery process and not selection of my case.
    ********************************************************
    Reposting as I forgot to add something… Anyways this is the message I received this morning when I contacted my school”

    Because your employer has filed for H-1B you were granted a cap-gap extension while the USCIS makes there decision. Your cap-gap extends you to 09/30/15″

    I was not provided a receipt number. Does this mean I was granted a cap gap because my h1 was filed, while USCIS decides if I am picked in the lottery and then processed.

    Sorry really confused as I haven’t heard anything from my attorney.

    Reply
  5. I drank the Suprep mixture at 6pm today followed by 2 16oz containers of water. It’s 10:39pm now and I have not been to potty yet. I’ve had cramps and bloating but nothing else. I’m to repeat the process at 6am in morning.

    Reply
  6. My lawyer just replied me said” it is likely that you have not been selected”.

    Looks like God has another wonderful path for me. Good luck for all people who really need this H1B. Pray for all of you! But if you cannot get it, that means when God closes a window, he opens a DOOR for you!

    I’m so glad this is my first time and also last time going through this. If I have one more year, I may still have hope for next year. Now I know the result, I can start planning my future now rather than waste another year then the result maybe still the same.

    Good luck to all of you guys!

    Reply
  7. Hi Everyone,
    I am following this blog from Day 1 and this is my 1st comment that might help some people

    Last year my H1b was not picked and this year is my last chance so i applied from 2 Employers(A & B) – one is premium and other Regular. I have no info for my premium(A – Called lawyer about my Premium application and he told me not to loose hopes until 24th) and for regular(B) check was encashed today

    A – Applied 62 h1b’s this year and got only 18 till now
    B – Applied 31 h1b’s this year and got 28 till now

    I called Univeristy DSO yesterday(April 21st) and checked my sevis status, they told me that i have no update on my sevis and expires in May, 2015. I am not sure if my Sevis is updated today.

    I am praying for all the people, who are still waiting. Don’t loose hope

    My case
    Emp A- AD/PP/Ver
    Emp B- AD/RP/Ver

    Thanks all

    Reply
    • Congratulations buddy 🙂 I know you are from Seattle. Happy for you bud !!
      Pray for me.

      Stay calm and watch IPL 😀

      Reply
    • So it all depends on the law firm we are applying with ? if they get high rate of selection we are in else onthe losing side ?

      Reply
  8. Anybody getting this message?

    “At this time USCIS cannot provide you with information for your case. Please contact the NCSC 1 (800) 375-5283 for additional information.”

    Reply
  9. Employer filled H1B but still didn’t received any confirmation under premium processing, does this mean it is not picked up or do i need to wait more ?

    Reply
    • If are not getting confirmation mail, it does not mean you are out of lottery.

      Really getting confirmation mail means you are through the lottery?

      Expert please reply

      Reply
  10. My lawyer just replied me said” it is likely that you have not been selected”.

    Looks like God has another wonderful path for me. Good luck for all people who really need the H1B. If you cannot get it, don’t

    Reply
  11. AD/PP/VT..No news yet..I think hopes are very narrow at this moment..So figuring out plan B now…not much of options left though..:(

    Reply
    • Just wait Sudheer…. Another colleague of mine got it just now (30mins back). AD / PP / VT … It seems the attorney got an auto generated email. The original receipt is still on the way via USPS mail. Attorney said in the next two days they are hopeful to receive more.

      Reply
    • Around 3/4 of us won’t make it. So I think it’s realistic to prepare for plan B now if you don’t have much time. Let’s be realistic guys.

      Reply
  12. For those who applied for Non Advance Degree (Bachelors) Premium Processing at the Cali center. Are there any chances still ? Shall I be hopeful ? Thanks for replying.

    Reply
    • It is speculated. But there has not been any official confirmation from USCIS whether they maintain such a list. I highly doubt there is such a concept.

      Reply
      • That is not true. They do waitlist petitions, and it was published in official communications once.
        http://www.uscis.gov/archive/archive-news/uscis-runs-random-selection-process-h-1b-petitions

        “USCIS has “wait-listed” some H-1B petitions, meaning they may possibly replace petitions chosen to receive an FY-2009 cap number, but that subsequently are denied, withdrawn, or otherwise found ineligible. USCIS will retain these petitions until a decision is made whether they will replace a previously selected petition. USCIS will send a letter to the wait list petitioners to inform them of their status

        USCIS expects that for each of these wait-listed petitions, it will either issue a receipt notice or return the petition with fees within six to eight weeks.”

        Reply
    • USCIS has “wait-listed” some H-1B petitions, meaning they may possibly replace petitions chosen to receive an FY-2009 cap number, but that subsequently are denied, withdrawn, or otherwise found ineligible. USCIS will retain these petitions until a decision is made whether they will replace a previously selected petition. USCIS will send a letter to the wait list petitioners to inform them of their status
      “http://www.uscis.gov/archive/archive-news/uscis-runs-random-selection-process-h-1b-petitions”

      Reply
  13. Non-AD/PP/CSW

    Called SEVIS and they told me that my SEVIS Status is active…. what does that mean? Did I got picked? Help please!!!

    Reply
    • Since you are a PP candidate and your SEVIS status is “Active”, most likely you did not get through the lottery. You could still wait until Monday, 27th but after that you should start working on your plan B.

      Reply
    • When is your CPT/OPT expiring. This only works for candidates whose CPT or OPT is expiring before October 2015. Here is the number where you can call
      To contact the SEVP Response Center for general SEVP-related questions or SEVIS-related technical questions, please call 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET

      Reply
  14. Got a message from my employer that the check he had given for my application were deducted from the company’s account.
    I am in AD/RP/CA pool.
    Hopefully will receive the receipt number soon.

    Reply
  15. Hello Friends,
    plzz……wanna know updates on Non-AD/RP/California.
    Any guess on when can I expect the update…???
    Desperately looking for your updates..

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  16. Seems to look like most of the PP were picked @ VSC than CSC. Hmm looks like silicon valley employers are screwed this time around.

    Reply
  17. Please god, less for Indian and more for other countries, please restore the balance please…
    Curse those who files multiple petition and screw the others.
    T____T

    Reply
  18. I was frustrated, because I was the last one got good news in my company. RP/AD/VT. Please don’t give up your hope. Pray for all of you.

    Reply
  19. When can I expect Non AD RP updates? This is my first time and it seems my whole life is dependent on it now…career, marriage etc. My guy is already in US on H1b and if I don’t get through, I would have to go as a dependent and sit at home in spite of being highly qualified..

    Reply
  20. Hi Amazonian,
    Any update from Fragomen? Did anyone get the receipt or any update in tracker?
    Any idea where petition was filed for Seattle ofc employees – CSC or VSC?

    Reply
    • Your H1B application location depends on your job location. Following is the link, I think your application is submitted at California…
      usavisanow.com/h-1b-visa/h1b-visa-resources/uscis-addresses-for-h-1b-filing/

      Reply
      • Did you tried contacting immigration department?
        m not sure about the service center, wether its CSC or VSC.
        Can anyone from Amazon(Seattle) confirm this?

        Thanks!

        Reply
  21. AD/PP/VT: Is it time to move to plan B ?? (phd in my case) or wait till the end of the week. This morning my hopes where all high that I will get it and now i am just calm. No frustration nothing as if it doesn’t matter because a lottery cannot decide my faith. But on the second hand I do phd and 3 years later I will be in same condition of H1B lottery system. Any suggestions??

    Reply
      • Hey dude. your message about agarbatti couple of days back was really funny. I asked people in this forum if they found you funny because for sure I found it really funny. Thanks and yes we could sell agarbatti if we get h1B 😛

        Reply
        • Yeah man. I saw your post. I have been pretty stressed about the whole thing. After figuring out that worrying is only gonna make things worse. I decided to start trolling. Its’ been going pretty good.

          Reply
    • I am in the same situation as you. PP/ADV/VSC. phd and last chance. heard nothing right now. but most of my colleagues already got their notes. So, no hope for me. Don’t think CPT would be a good choice for me.

      Reply
    • Wait till this Friday 5 PM EST or PST(Depending on your service center) and go for plan B. You can get your OPT started after you complete your PHD and can apply for green card once you get a job. You will be in EB 1 category as you are a PHD student and can get it in 3-6 months of time

      Reply
    • If you are doing your PhD in USA, your employer can directly apply for your GC. You do not need to apply for your H1b. Talk to your employer. Also if you are working in a college or a school, they can apply for your GC too. Look into it

      Reply
    • Do you already have a admit for a Phd program? That’s the best option if you do and probably you can continue working with you employer part time if university allows work outside Campus. The employer can again file for you next year and if you get lucky you can drop you Phd program…..

      Reply
    • PHD is not EB1 GC processing:
      To qualify for Eb1 one must have 3 out of 10 listed qualification on USCIS website. For that just regular phd won’t be enough. Agree with Saum and have to really work hard and write some papers and hopefully a patent or so… And yes already got an admit (in USA) but asked them to hold on printing new I20 (so my sevis record don’t change)

      Reply
  22. I got the receipt number from the lawyer, but the DSo says sevis is still active..what does it mean? Also, from what point does the 15 day clock start if my petition was filed under PP.

    Reply
  23. hello all. My name iz adiseshulu and I am from chintal, hyderabad but lng in nashville, tn. I appli for hb1 3 year ago frm india and gt aprove. my doughter now 8th stndrd. what iz prcss fr applu for h1b fr hr

    Reply
  24. Finally I realized that H1B is only useful for People who are already in US with Master Degree. In India, Even if we get H1B , it will 1-2 another year to go to US and till that you will be bounded to your employer with Current CTC.
    Now I wish that I don’t get selected and Switch to another company. Anyway I m in VLSI industry , Pay is almost 15L for my experience people , so not that bad in India. Now I will pray for all Adv Degree guys who are already working in US.Good Luck

    Reply
    • Thank you for the thought!!!! and all the best of luck to the all of us.. We all aspire for a better future to ourselves and our families.. I am in the US – advanced degree holder – my family is here too and we are going through this agonizing process…. Life as we know it for few years now and all the hard work is subject to the mercy of the ‘random lottery’ process. May Almighty God help us all.

      Reply
    • 15 L is a bad pay in India: Cost of living is so high in India too

      I wish you get H1b and came to us asap ( by Jan 2016) — then you will understand how good to be in USA

      All the best to you too

      Reply
  25. My employer just send me an e-mail that my H-1B(AD/PP/VSC) got picked. Filed through Fragomen. Stay calm and keep hope

    Reply

Leave a Comment