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Understand H1B Visa Receipt Number? Meaning ? Track Status USCIS

Once the H1B lottery/random selection is done for any year, the selected applicant’s employer would have got receipt numbers from USCIS. If your employer shares that number with you, you may wonder : What does the H1B case number meanĀ  ? What do I do with it ? Can I use it to track my case status ?

We see a quite a bit of cases in ourĀ  H1B Visa Tracker, that they don’t know the filing center. If you understand the H1B receipt number, you would easily know that and update the same on the tracker to have accurate reporting.Ā  This article focuses on helping you understand the H1B Visa receipt number and how you can use it to track your case status online.

What is the H1B Case number meaning? Is there a format?

Firstly, H1B Case number is a unique number given by USCIS for tracking a particular case. Think of it like Social Security Number for an Individual in the US or a Hall Ticket Number for a student. The H1B case number is unique for a case. Ā It is a 13 Character Number and usually starts with a three Alphabets. It follows a certain format as shown below. You can break it down in the below format of

XXXā€”XXā€”XXXā€”XXXXX

The first three characters indicate the filing center of the H1B petition.Ā  It would be one of the below:

  • EAC ā€“ Vermont Service Center (old name: Eastern Adjudication Center).
  • WAC ā€“ California Service Center (old name: Western Adjudication Center).
  • Ā Sample format:Ā  EAC- XXā€”XXXā€”XXXXX

The second two characters indicate the filing year. Ā It does not indicate the Fiscal year number. It is the actual year the petition was filed.

  • For H1B Visa 2019 Fiscal year, it would be 18 as you are filing in year 2018.
  • Sample Format :Ā  EAC ā€“ 18 – XXXā€”XXXXX

The next three characters indicate the computer working day of the USCIS fiscal year. It starts from October 1st of the fiscal year.Ā  So, for this fiscal year starting from October 1st of 2018, it would be 001 for Oct 1st, it increments for each working day and does NOT include Weekends and Holiday. Ā This day corresponds to the day your H1B Case was receipted by USCIS, it does NOT indicate when they received your petition or filed.

  • Ā If your case was receipted on April 10th, it would be 130.
  • Sample format :Ā  EAC ā€“ 18 ā€“ 130 – XXXXX

The next five characters indicate the case number that was assigned to your case on a particular day.Ā  For H1B Visa cases, it would typically start with a 5. USCIS typically assigns case numbers for all types of cases processed on a particular day. That’s the reason, we mentioned in article Misconceptions of H1B Processing, that you should not get confused with the case number increments saying that so many Ā H1B cases were processed on a particular day.

  • Sample format :Ā  EAC ā€“ 18 ā€“ 30 ā€“ 51344

Ā What do I do with H1B Case Number ? Can I track status Ā ?

H1B Case number is issued by USCIS to a petitioner to track the status of their case. You can use the H1B Visa Case number to track your petition status.Ā  All you need do is go to the USCIS website at URL : https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.doĀ  and enter your case number there and click on check status. You will get the status information of your H1B petition.

Sign up for Automatic Email and SMS Updates forĀ  H1B Case Status Tracking

It can be frustrating to go to USCIS website and check the case status every day right ? USCIS has given a nice facility to get automatic updates. USCIS allows you to track your Ā H1B Case status by signing up for automatic alerts via email and SMS. You can register an account at https://egov.uscis.govĀ  and then enter your details and case number information to get automatic updates.

Any questions ? Comments ?

   

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272 Comments

  1. Hi, I’m on F1 visa. I have filed for H1B visa through consular processing. If I do premium now n gets approval Can I cross the country get stamped and come back or do I have to wait till October 1st ?

    Reply
    • You can only be on H1B status from October 1st. You can enter US on H1B only 10 days before October 1st. So, technically, you cannot enter on H1B before that.

      Reply
  2. Is there any way of checking that the receipt number my lawyers supplied belongs to me? I have heard a bunch of cases where lawyers mess up and give out the wrong receipt numbers so just wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case.

    Reply
    • Well, there is no way to verify online. The only way to verify is ask them to send a scan copy of the receipt to see the name on it.

      Reply
    • It can take anywhere from few weeks after H1B lottery date, which is around April 2nn week, to couple of months. Usually by June they should get it.

      Reply
  3. When I tried to check my receipt number online case status through USCIS, getting the validation error. how much time it will take to update ?

    Reply
  4. Please I sent my h1b application to USCIS on Friday 3, February 2018.its a premium processing, whow long will it take to get my receipt notice

    Reply
  5. 1.i have received email from employer as below mentioned
    This is to notify that the Immigration authority has approved the Work permit application. and mentioned other details like
    Workpermit valid From : 01-Oct-2017
    Workpermit valid To : 26-Feb-2020
    and receipt number.
    But when i checked on USCIS site the status is “My case is Received”
    and below message.

    On April 11, 2017, we received your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number EACXXXXXXXX, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by May 11, 2017, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give

    is my H1B approved or still further process….Plz Plz reply

    Reply
  6. Hello team,
    My employer gave me a receipt number after filing my h1b. I got rfe and my empoyer sent the additional documents to USCIS.
    This time my employer gavrba different receipt number.i am confused. Could someone help me to understand??

    Reply
  7. Dear sir,

    I applied H1B for this year 2016 via a consultancy in us and I got picked in the lottery as per update from that cosultancy . But I got rfe and the cosultancy guy is saying to withdraw the application.
    What is the probability that he might applied H1B for me in first place? He is not sharing an my info about the case number and whenever I ask him the case number he seem to fooling me around with his words and he hasn’t shared the case number yet n hence I started getting doubts.
    How can I get the case number from him?
    How can I change to some other company in case if it’s been applied for sure??
    Do I have a option of threatening him to get the details in what ways??
    Kindly advise me it’s been a restless night for while and I am not able to let this oppertunity to skip through m hands.

    Thanks
    Edwar

    Reply
  8. Thanks for your informative website.

    When (what year) did the USCIS start issuing these receipt and case no.s for anyone to check on their website with?

    Reply
  9. My case was apparently rejected. The “reject case number” is VRN17110*****. But when I enter it at https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do or call USCIS and enter it through the phone, it’s not recognized.

    What I want to do is corroborate that my lawyer did indeed send the petition to USCIS. How can I do this?

    Shouldn’t my prospective employer be receiving a letter or email directly from USCIS about my case?

    Reply
    • Tomas,

      Lottery rejection numbers are not searchable on USCIS site like receipt numbers. You can ask for rejection letter copy from employer. That would have your name, employer name and this rejection number and would prove that petition was indeed applied but didn’t make through the lottery.

      Reply
  10. I just received a receipt number (begins with EAC). Does this mean that my application made it through the lottery?

    Thanks!

    Reply
      • Hi! I just got a receipt note with the receipt number starting with WAC-16-….
        Does that mean I was selected? Is there a chance that after processing the case is denied? I`m happy but scared of getting my hopes too high… =)

        Reply
        • Ana,

          Yes, you made through the lottery. However, every petition has a chance of rejection. Selection <> approval.

          Reply
      • Hi ,

        Can anyone please give us an idea how is the case number(13 digit) will look like for this year H1B.

        For eg- WAC16(Days)(last 5 digits)

        Reply
      • Hello Saurabh,

        When I tried to check my receipt number online case status through USCIS, getting the validation error as shown below

        “My Case Status does not recognize the receipt number entered. Please check your receipt number and try again. If you need further assistance, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.”

        I got my receipt no 3 days back from my Employer and it starting with WAC-16-145-*****

        Please suggest, what i have to do in this case??

        Thanks you

        Reply
      • I just received my receipt note with the receipt number starting with EAC-16-ā€¦.

        does it mean I am selected in the lotteryā€¦pls reply I am very exited

        Reply
    • Hi,

      Today, I have got a mail from my employeer, that “received acknowledgment from immigration authorities” what dose this mean, is it that I have got through the lottery?

      Clife

      Reply
    • I just received my receipt note with the receipt number starting with EAC-16-ā€¦.

      does it mean I am selected in the lottery…pls reply I am very exited

      Reply
  11. Hi Guys,
    My petition was filed under cap exempt premiun. I have few queries.

    1. When documents were sent to CSC, how many days it will take to generate case I’d?
    2. As already I have an expired petition but not used, will I get again a new petition number or the old one will be used?

    Reply
  12. I have received reject case# VRP1607112XXX , can any one please explain about this case number, also it can not be verified at USCIS. Error: The application receipt number entered is invalid. Please check your receipt number and try again.

    Reply
  13. My H1B visa Application form got selected in Lottery,But i did not got any update regarding receipt No.

    Please let me know what should i do…I am very tensed…does my visa process further.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • You should ask your employer to give you for tracking purpose…if they are not giving it to you, they are not transparent with you.

      Reply
      • Hello IG,

        I have plans for travelling and i have stamp for my current h1 bt have applied for an extension, and once i gt tht im travelling and would go for dropbox or interview, but im tensed as i jst got to know my contract with my client is getting over 2 mnths before im leaving….plz help wht to do?

        Reply
  14. Hello,

    What would be the USCIS working day this year for April 15th ? I have last 5 digits that i can see on the cashed check transaction details and this is processed at california service center, can someone estimate the possible receipt number except the last five characters? Please help.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  15. I received my receipt last month and status says received, could you please let me know how long it is going to take as for few guys the visa is approved also..
    any comments is appreciated.

    Thank you.

    Reply
  16. On USCIS Website when I tried to check the status of my H1B application I found below result. But I am not sure about the meaning of the status. Is it selected ,rejected or pending in the lottery process.
    I did not get any mail regarding selection or rejection.

    Below is what I can see in my Status
    On April 13, 2015, we received your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number EAC15XXXXXXXX, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by May 13, 2015, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

    Reply
  17. On USCIS Website when I tried to check the status of my H1B application I found below result. But I am not sure about the meaning of the status. Is it selected ,rejected or pending in the lottery process.
    I did not get any mail regarding selection or rejection.

    On April 13, 2015, we received your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number EAC15XXXXXXXX, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by May 13, 2015, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

    Reply
  18. The receipt number is a unique 13-character identifier that USCIS provides for each application or petition it receives. The agency uses it to identify and track its cases.

    The receipt number consists of three letters-for example, EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC or IOE-and 10 numbers. You can find it on notices of action USCIS has sent you.

    Omit dashes (“-“) when entering a receipt number. However, you can include all other characters, including asterisks (“*”), if they are listed on your notice as part of the receipt number.

    Reply
  19. Can someone help me with this. I checked my case status using the USCIS receipt number EAC1513XXXXXX and got the below mentioned message. I am not sure about the case status. Is it that my application has been selected in the lottery or something else?

    Case Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was Emailed

    On April 20, 2015, we received your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number EAC1513XXXXXX, and emailed you a receipt notice. It is being processed at our Vermont Service Center location. The notice describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address

    Reply
  20. Dear Friends,
    pls reply my query..

    i have applied H1B process to one company…i have sent all the necessary documents to that company and that company directly courier to us embassy with their employees application…after that i didnt get my tracking number that company person said after fininshing the lotary process u ll get the tracking number until unless we should wait but i dont have any proof wheather he submited or not…

    My Query is
    1.after applying shall we get courier(fed ex) tracking id or not ?
    2.Suppose if company couriered 10 applications at a time,shall we get tracking id’s individually to all 10 members or only that corresponding company person will get one trackind id for all 10 persons?

    Please answer…

    Reply
    • Hi,
      whenever any company files for H1 B , the tracking number is always there .Mostly as per my case,others along with me was sent by fedex by my company lawyer.Mostly the attorney sent the details to USCIS and the same mail is forwarded by company to people whose visa is filed by themOnce the visa gets selected you are assigned a reciept number which can be sent by company to you.The thing is quite transparent only if the company wants to…Good luck bro…

      Reply
  21. can anyone help me.i have a problem regarding checking of my application status.How can i get information regarding my case in i130? Thanks in advance

    Reply
  22. Hi,
    I have got I-129 and got Approval notice.This I got during 10/01/2009 to 09/01/2012, but I didn’t go for stamping for some reason.
    I have applied again under CAP exemption and got receipt number EAC-15-XXX-XXXXX. So how long I need to wait for to get approval notice as I have applied under Cap exemption.
    Please Suggest…!!

    Reply
    • Rose,
      My case was similar i applied in 2014, till today also initial review , i had previous approval ( under exemption), It is purely luck i believe. If your applied Premium processing you will get soon otherwise long wait..
      Goodluck

      Reply
  23. Hi all,

    My status in USCIS is in Initial review with the below comments. This is for Premium Processing – H1B Transfer

    ā€œā€On XXX, 2014, your address was changed relating to the I129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER that you filed. Please check our website at http://www.uscis.gov (http://www.uscis.gov) for further updates on your case. Please wait until the end of normal processing time before calling customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for live assistance.ā€

    I am confused about the address change comment above. Is it okay to have this comment or any action is required from my side.

    Reply
  24. Got RFE yesterday and my case number is EAC14141*** Not sure what could be the reason and need to wait until we get the courier from USCIS.

    Reply
    • Hi Vsivarav,
      Are you sure it is premium processing?I am sorry i am asking you because i thought lottery selection and approvals must be done within 15 days from april 28th for premium candidates.If your friend recieved the receipt yesterday then i hope i stand a chance in lottery selection too.I am regular-NonAdvanced candidate and so far i haven’t recieved reciept yet.Please give your inputs.

      Reply
      • Yes. He applied through Premium processing . He also told me that 13 out of 15 employees in his company had got receipts before April 30th . And he got his receipt yesterday. His receipt was dated 28th May. AD/PP candidate .

        Reply
  25. Finally after 2 months of grueling wait, I received my rejection letter yesterday. Just letting the good people on this forum know. The letter was dated 2 May but was received on june 2nd.

    Reply
  26. Hi…. i got my receipt no on 28th April. Still my case is in Initial Review. Mine is premium processing. How much time it wil to get approved. Will be any problm???

    Reply
    • Hmm, are you sure it’s premium? I thought they’re required to respond within 15 calendar days — even accounting for this year’s official “start” date of April 28, your response is quite overdue.

      Hope you get it soon — and perhaps they’ll refund the premium costs to your employer!

      Reply
    • Have you got your approval ?

      Mine is Regular CAP and Premium Processing. My case status is still ‘Initial Review’ from April 24th.

      Any idea why it is getting delayed?

      Reply
  27. Hi guys,

    Though I am still awaiting result but i have a question is it possible that my employer can decline for filing my h1 visa next year?If yes, should I ask them right away as soon i come to know the result for this year? That wil give me some room to find another employer. But what if they say no after jan next year?

    Reply
  28. Hii,

    DID ANYONE WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED H1B LOTTERY RECEIPT– GOT REJECTION LETTER? WAITING FOR RESULT — FED UP OF THIS WAIT šŸ™ JUST WANT TO KNOW NOW ASAP — ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’.

    Reply
    • Hi, today is June 3 and according to my employer and attorneys we haven’t received either my H1B receipt, the rejection letter or the package back!! Is this normal?? Wouldn’t the receipt number be available if the application was received by USCIS?

      Reply
  29. Hi I Got receipt on April 20. Still my case is showing “not found” in the USCIS system. My receipt number starts with EAC14132*** . Does anyone else has the same problem? Please reply.

    Reply
  30. Did anyone get receipt notices after May 10 in PP category? I think chances are lose to zero now, and the USCIS is just waiting to send all packets back after they process selected candidates. I asked my lawyer, and he confirmed this with “99.99% surety” verbatim. Not trying to discourage anyone, but just sharing what my lawyer told me.

    Please, if anyone who is “PP category”, receives a receipt notice now, do post here, so we all know.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • What about RP? My employer told that still status is not available for my case. Can I still hope positive? Pls respond.

      Reply
      • Hey Gaurav,

        I guess you should not lose hopes till you don’t receive your package back, last year I heard people with regular got notified in June 1st week that their’s was approved, so don’t lose hopes… Good Luck

        Reply
  31. Hi all,

    My status in USCIS is in Initial review with the below comments. This is for RP

    “”On XXX, 2014, your address was changed relating to the I129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER that you filed. Please check our website at www.uscis.gov (http://www.uscis.gov) for further updates on your case. Please wait until the end of normal processing time before calling customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for live assistance.”

    I am confused about the address change comment above. Is it okay to have this comment or any action is required from my side.

    Reply
      • Even I am in the same situation. I got “your address was changed for I129” in Initial Review status. Is it something to panic? Please advise.

        Reply
  32. Dear all need your help, i got offer from US based company and sent all required documents, this is my first time applying for visa and i dont know much about the process. following are the things done by my attorney.
    1. PERM,AOS,I-140 filed
    03-09-2014 Opened process We have received intake information and have initiated processing. Additional documentation and information may be requested.
    03-10-2014 File ETA 9035 with DOL LCA filed
    03-10-2014 Send Posting Notices Sent Posting Notices to Employer for posting at Two Places at Employee work site. Draft LCA.
    03-10-2014 PIF preperation Prepare Public Inspection File Documents
    03-10-2014 review LCA information and create LCA screens Review & Collect Information To Prepare PIF
    3/17/2014 Questionnaire received The completed questionnaire has been received. You will be notified if additional information or documents are needed.
    3/17/2014 LCA Approved We have received the approved Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the Dept. of Labor (DOL).
    3/22/2014 Forms/Letter sent to client for signature We have sent the forms/letters prepared for filing out for signature.
    3/22/2014 Obtain Ed. Eval. Request an educational evaluation of the Beneficiary/Applicant’s credentials
    3/22/2014 All docs received We have received all the documents and information needed and are now preparing the forms/support letters.
    3/27/2014 Signed forms/letters received We have received the signed forms/letters and are now preparing to file.
    3/31/2014 Filed case We have filed the case and are waiting for the decision.

    This is what done so far, so is there hopes still alive for me?

    Reply
    • It doesn’t say whether your H-1B made it through the lottery. Of course, it’s possible that your lawyer does not update the system, so can’t say for sure.

      What’s most interesting to me is the line about “I-140.” Are they filing a green card application for you? Do you mind sharing what law firm your company is using?

      Reply
  33. Hi All,
    I am a silent follower of this site, i have been following this from past two years…after waiting for 2 long years…i got my receipt today…i wish everyone ovr here …hear the same news….plz believe in god n destiny….keep going all the best….

    Reply
    • I read a tweet from @immigrationcom “H1B premium processing receipts will conitnue for next two weeks, USCIS informed us today upon inquiry”

      Reply
        • yes AD PP we will receive one reponse with complete approval package. It will come in 2 weeks time. This is just too many AD/PP candidated did not recieve,.

          Reply
          • I’m also AD/PP/VT, but I have to say we’re probably not going to get through. A few attorneys have provided basic stats on their receipts, and it seems like they have received pretty much the number of acceptances you would expect. By my estimation, the success rate for AD applicants is 66%, and several of them are reporting numbers around that.

            Anyway, as much as I hate to say it, we’re pretty much screwed.

          • I think we need to write letters to senate to address the issue about multiple applications through consultancy.

            I am not native english speaker, my English writing is not good.
            I believe senate will listen to it, they changed some rules in 2008 for strict rules for some IT jobs without projects.

    • I m also waiting to here from my employer. I think they are actually waiting to get rejected packets so that they can publish selected and non selected result at once.
      Pls wish me luck.
      Regular/non AD

      Reply
  34. Hi,
    I received my receipt notice but my name was wrongly entered there. Will it be a problem or it can be corrected if we call them? Please advise.

    Reply
    • Is it wrongly typed or a Completely name didn’t entered? If it a spell check error then you should contact them (ask attorney for help) if your complete name was missing then don’t worry much as it difficult to enter complete name if it has more alphabets!

      Reply
      • Thanks VK for the reply.

        Complete name was not entered. Just a short form of my surname and last name was entered. Just asked attorney threw my consultancy to verify if any issue in initial submission and cross verify. They said, they will update me shortly on this.

        Reply
    • Didn’t you get the receipt? The receipt contains several details like: Processing center, dates (received, notice sent), employer’s and employee’s names.

      Reply
    • Hello Meena,

      there is no way you can keep a track of that, if you employer has filled for more than 10 people. Some employers send all packages together, while some send it individually. the only thing you can do is trust your employer for now, and keep following up with them or your attorney.

      Good Luck.!!!

      Reply
      • Hi Tia,
        I’ve a question. If our employer/attorney filed about 10 people, they will still have different petition numbers for each individual. Correct? Why would some one petition number would be same with other?

        Reply
  35. Hurray….I have received my reciept notice on 28th April.
    Its now showing status as initial review on USCIS website.
    How much time more to see next update?
    My receipt No is EAC-14-141-XXXXX.

    Reply
    • Find the below and in the same sequence they work after sending receipt:

      1. Advance/PP: With in fifteen days status changed to RFE/PDA
      2. Regular / PP: With in fifteen days status changed to RFE/PDA
      3. Advance: Up to 60 Days status changed to RFE/PDA or in some cases it takes more time
      4. Regular: Up to 90 Days status changed to RFE/PDA or in some cases it takes more time

      Reply
  36. Hi,
    i was on h4 and recently my h1b visa got picked in lottery and approved. So its valid from oct 2014. My husband’s h1b and my h4 will be expiring on sept 30th. I hav 2 queries.
    -Can i travel to india on h4 now and come back before oct ?
    -Also,as my husband’s h1b is expiring,is it fine if he applies only his visa extension now and not mine.
    Do anyone have any idea about my queries .?

    Reply

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