This page will track all the latest news, both official news from USCIS and unofficial updates from community for H1B Visa FY 2021 Season
Latest News Updates – Official and Unofficial (Most recent on the top)
- August 14th, 2020 ( Confirmed) : Today, USCIS ran second round lottery for H1B visa 2021 season. It was run on the existing H1B registrations that were filed for FY 2021 back in March. Many attorneys confirmed the news and also AILA issued practice alert. Many of our users confirmed too. See below for the practice alert from AILA.
- June 22nd, 2020 ( Official ) : Trump signed an Executive Order that bans entry of H1B holders into US. If you are someone planning to get US visa and enter US, you cannot enter. It does not impact H1B holder filing as COS and moving to H1B status within USA. Check more at Trump H1B Entry Ban Executive Order Details
- May 20th, 2020 (Community Update) Users shared that they have received approval notices. They have shared copies as well. Check actual H1B Receipts and Approval Notices for FY 2021
- May 11th, 2020 (Community Update) : Many F1 students are waiting for H1B Receipts and updates to their Cap Gap. One of our reader, SJ has updated that his cap gap status got extended to Sep 30th, 2020 and was able to check the cap gap in his SEVP Portal. Thanks to SJ for sharing. SJ’s H1B petition was received by USCIS on April 15th and the status got update on April 29th and waiting for physical receipt notice. Below is a screenshot for your reference.
- May 8th, 2020 (Community Update) : Couple of our readers updated on the blog that they have received H1B Receipt Notice file for FY 2021. See below screenshots.
- April 13th, 2020 ( Official ): USCIS issued alert for stakeholders regarding delays with processing of data entry, receipt notices today. Check H1B 2021 Delays with Receipt Generation, Data Entry – May 1st
- April 1st, 2020 ( Official ) : USCIS announced that they have received 275K thousand H1B petitions for FY 2021 Quota in Registration Period. Applicant selected will be able download a H1B registration Selection Notice. It looks like below. Check Sample H1B Registration Notice.
- March 28th, 2020 ( Official ): USCIS updated that the H1B Lottery for Registrations is completed and employers would see results in the online portal by March 31st, 2020. Read full details at H1B Registration Lottery Completed
- March 16th, 2020 ( Official ) : USCIS confirmed that premium processing is not available from April 1st for FY 2021. For full details read H1B Premium Processing FY 2021 Updates
- Feb 21st, 2020 ( Official ): USCIS again confirmed the filing dates for registration and the submission dates for registration in a press release. It is same as before and nothing has changed. The above article covers the same dates and info. You can read USCIS press release
Key Dates for H1B FY 2021 Season
- February 24th, 10 AM, EST, 2020 : Employers can create H1B registrant accounts
- March 1st, Noon EST, 2020 : Employer can start to submit H1B Registrations
- March 20th , Noon EST, 2020 : H1B Registration period ends.
- March 31st, 2020 : H1B Lottery/ Selection Results Deadline (can come before).
- April 1st, 2020 : USCIS accepts H1B petition with LCA, full info for FY 2021
- June 30th, 2020 : 90 Days deadline ends for filing of H1B petitions for FY 2021
H1B 2021 Registration, Case Tracker
Did you submit H1B Registration for FY 2021 or filed petition for FY 2021. In general, the registration process is new and also during H1B application processing, the wait can be long and frustrating to see your status not move….You would be curious to know others status…so, to have a general view on the statuses movement for entire community, we have put together a tracker along with good graphs for analysis. It is completely anonymous as we do not capture your case number or any personal information. It is community contributed data, the more you add, the better for everyone, including You !
[prompt type=”left” title=”Track your H1B Registration, Case” message=” Anonymously Track your H1B Registration, Case – Share and Get updated from Community.” button_text=”H1B 2021 Registration, Case Tracker” href=”https://redbus2us.com/trackers/h1b-visa-tracker/”]
Reference Articles related to H1B visa 2021 season :
- H1B Visa 2021 – FAQs – Quota, Sponsors, Fee, Start Date
- H1B Registration Process for FY 2021 – Lottery
- 29 H1B Registration Process FAQs ?
- How does H1B Visa Lottery Work ?
H1B Visa 2021 Cap Count updates Tracking Table:
| USCIS Update Date | Regular H1B Cap (65,000) | Advanced Degree Cap (20,000) | Analysis and Cap Count Update Article. |
| April 1, 2020 | 65,000 | 20,000 | 275K Registrations Received |
| Remaining H1B Cap | 0 | 0 |
Common FAQs
No one knows at this point. We only can tell after June 30th, if USCIS will announced anything, based on the number of petitions received by them.
No, you cannot transfer.
Well, it only means that you were not selected in first round of lottery. There maybe a second run, which no one know. If so, you may have chance. Until your status shows “Not Selected” online, you are not officially rejected for FY 2021.
USCIS say until end of Fiscal year and the context is missing, if they mean end of current fiscal year or end of USCIS fiscal year…either case, we do not know until USCIS updates us. All we can do is wait.
Hi,
I need to book appointment with same consulate mentioned on petition or can i book any other consulate?
BHANUPRAKASH,
You can book in any consulate, there is no restriction as such.
can we go for first time stamping to any consulate?
BHANUPRAKASH,
Yes, you can go anywhere. But, not all consulates accept third country nationals. Usually they suggest home country.
I am in UAE now, mentioned Dubai consulate on my petition approval. Shall proceed to Abu Dhabi consulate because both are in same country. Any idea opening of consulates?
Hi,
In the case of I-129 when the we get the confirmation as “Case Was Approved”. , does it mean that any further RFE possible in this case or it is confirmed (Visa Approved) . What is the next process in such “Case Approved” ones, can we take that this will go for the next stage with visa stamping. Please confirm,.
Raj,
Usually no. Once approved, there is no RFE. Yes, you take it and go to next steps.
Hi,
What is the process after the approval of I-129 form. Does it mean that the visa approval is complete or still there will be any other process here.
Thanks
Raj
Raj,
You need to get H1B Stamping. Read Steps after H1B Visa Approval
Hi Kumar Ji,
I have a question regarding merit based immigration, that Trump is planning to issue an executive order.
1. Till now whatever approvals beneficiaries have received so for, do they have higher salaries?
Since merit based immigration what I learn so far is that whoever has higher salary will get preference.
2. What is your rough estimate of percent approval received so far of 65k h1b quota?
Ravi,
There is no real news, other than one word telling some EO on immigration. People are create all their own speculations and confusing everyone. Do not worry.
You can check USCIS reports or check H1BGrader.com, there you can see it by company
Hi,
If the H1B petition filed means, can we assume that the visa approval is clear or is there any possibility of visa denial /rejection with the petition. In that case for the 2021 CAP when can we expect the approval and any timeline for the stamping.
Thanks
Raj
Raj,
There is no guarantee for anything, it all depends on the documentation. Stamping for this year is not until Dec 2020 as there is president order to ban entry in place…
Hi kumar ,
my attorney applied my petetion with uscis on 16 June . now till what date i can expect my h1b receipt notice.
thanks
RM,
It can take 2 to 3 weeks.
Kumar,
if it takes more than 3 weeks than what we can do?
RM,
All we can do it wait. Try to call USCIS and ask them. It can be slow with COVID-19.
Kumar,
got the receipt number its wac XXXXX. any idea about the average processing time?
thanks for your support
RM,
It can take anywhere from few weeks to few months.There is no SLA, if regular processing.
Kumar,
normally in what time span we need to response to 129 form rfe?
like 30 days 40 days etc etc
please guide thanks
RM,
Usually around 60 days.
Hi Kumar
I received RFE on 4th August but neither my company nor attorney received the RFE notice. As usual, there are 60 days to respond keeping in view more than a month passed now my attorney request a copy of RFE. I am just afraid that by the time he received copy time passed?
1. did the time count from the date we received a copy?
2. in how many days a copy of RFE will be received any idea?
3. they send the copy by email or mail. ?
thanks in Advance for all your support
Hi did you receive the receipt notice and case receipt number
Hi Kumar
Please clarify my below query…
My application got selected in this year lottery
My employer *** says they’re not going to process any H1 application this year due to current situation… I am yet to check with my top management… Is there any chance that the due date will be extended after 30th June?… If my application is not filed before due date, do I have to go through the lottery again next year?
Raghu,
No, it may not be extended. Yes, you will need to go through lottery again.
Does anyone’s case is updated on CEAC since embassy is closed for covid!
Hi Kumar,
My updates are below. I am subject to cap.
Filed Date : May 12
Received Date : May 13
Notice Date : May 14
Received notice in mail: May 19
My EAD ends in July. Do i need to take any action to get cap gap or is it automatic? On SEVP i do see my ‘Active Post Completion” Date as 30 Sep 2020.
Whom should i ask for a document to get cap gap document? University or employer?
Rara,
It is automatic. If you see that status, you are good. Nothing to worry.
You need to ask your DSO to give you a New I-20 by showing the receipt notice.
My h1 was selected this year but my EAD expired on April 30th .. I applied for cap gap using the i797c selection notice ..and I received cap gap till June 1st .. my employer says they are still waiting to file it.(Reason was covid).
Also my DSO said extensions are automatic and once my petition is approved or filed the cap gap extension will be extended till September 30th and I will be allowed to work
BUT,
1.Am I allowed to work after June 1st as the cap gap was till June 1st?
2. What proof should I give if my employer asks for i9 after June 1st.
3. Will persuading my employer to file it before June 1st make sense? Or not worth the effort.
4.Employer claims uscis is accepting petitions untill July 1st and they want to file it slowly but again comes the question what to do after June 1st? Will I still be in legal status to work?
Does timely filing of H1 still apply here if it’s filed before my cap gap till June 1st end or it doesn’t matter at all?
Sneha,
1. You are allowed only, if your employer files H1B petition and in most cases, you should get a receipt notice unless some exceptions.
2. Receipt notice. New I-20 updated with cap gap given by DSO.
3. You should ask them to file it immediately…you may not be able to work, if not…
4. Yes, your legal status would be at risk. Until you file H1B petition, you are not considered eligible for cap gap. Check SEVIS, SEVP, Cap Gap Dates, info
Filing and getting receipt before June 1st is critical…
Hi Kumar, Please correct me if I’m wrong, is there a difference between getting the Petition receipt and getting an approval? I got my receipt and my update from the legal team is “H-1B petition accepted in the lottery. Receipt notice received. Awaiting adjudication.” Your guidance will be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Hey, looks like both our firms are using BAL for legal purposes, haha.
I am not Kumar but happy to answer. Receipt is not an approval. Receipt means that USCIS have received your petition and should have started working on it. So basically it’s a confirmation that your documents are now with USCIS and now they are going to review everything and make a final decision – hopefully, an approval.
Hi Kumar,
My case was selected last year and its still in old status ( My case was Received ) , Its regular. Please advise
Hopeful,
Well, online status can be misleading. talk to your attorney and ask them to followup
My H1B case got approved . Initially it was at VSC however my case got transferred to another office on April 29th 2020 and on May 14th 2020 it got approved.
Congratulations!!! Cap-exempt or cap-subject?
Thanks! It was cap-subject.
Congratulations on the approval. That was quick from USCIS. If you don’ mind, can you please post the timeline of the process ?
Thank you! Yes I never expected this . My company had filed my petition on 6th april 2020 and on 27th april I received receipt notice. On 29th april my case was transferred to another office . On 14th May my case was approved. Hope this timeline helps!!
Hi,
Can we know whether this petition was filed for a full time position or contracting position.
Thanks
max092012,
Cheers ! Glad to hear you got approval…positive hope for many.
That’s great news. Congrats on the approval. This gives hope for lot of folks who are very anxious about what happens next.
VSC approved my H1B yesterday! It was filed on April 1st after being picked in the lottery.
That’s great news. Congrats on the approval. This gives hope for lot of folks who are very anxious about what happens next.
Awesome news! Congratulations!
Did you have any delays/USCIS errors in your receipts along the way, or it went smoothly?
Not that I know about. I never got the receipt notice, but maybe the lawyer never forwarded it to me. I’m waiting on the physical approval notice, all I have is the email USCIS sent the lawyer notifying that my petition is approved.
Hi Paula, congrats on the news. Just to check you were picked up in 2021 H1B lottery right that comes into effect on 1st October. And you are approved already , that is great news. I thought people were just seeing receipts coming in and that too at a minimal speed.
That’s correct. Now I just have to wait for embassies to reopen
Hi Paula,
If you don’t mind, can you share with the community if our petition is Change of Status or Consular Processing?
Paula,
Congratulations. That’s quick. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Kumar!
I have received the H4 receipt notices for my dependents, dated May 5th, although my company’s attorney haven’t received my receipt notice yet. My SEVIS case is still not automatically updated, as per my DSO (I can’t access the SEVP portal for some reason).
Can I count it as good news or does it mean something is wrong with my case?
Case processing center – Vermont
Fedotov,
As they were filed together, it should be fine. It is very likely that there could be some mail issues. If there was something wrong with H1B, you would not get H4 Receipt notice in the first place right ? Hope you get it soon, nothing to panic. Do update here.
Hi Kumar, my attorney has received the receipt notice today, from Vermont service center! It contains the same error in the petitioner field as the one mentioned in the post, it’s authorized signatory’s name instead of the company’s name. The law firm mentioned they have contacted USCIS and flagged this error to them.
Fingers crossed and hope USCIS won’t mess my case up!
Fedotov,
It seems the issue is with the USCIS system, it happened with other user too. Do not worry, if it is their error, they will fix it.
Thanks a lot! Error fixed, my USCIS case status shows “your name was changed”, which is a good sign. Still no updates on the SEVIS/I-20 extension though… Good news is that the employer was happy to re-verify my I-9 for the cap-gap without the I-20, just with the expired EAD and the H1B receipt number. Hope it helps other cap-gap folks here who are going through this uncertainty.
Fedotov,
It is a good sign. That’s good. Thanks for sharing !