As you know, USCIS announced on April 7th that they received enough number of petitions for filling the H1B Visa statutory cap for the fiscal year 2015. Also, they indicated that there were more petitions received and there would be lottery/ random selection process for the same. Today USCIS did an official press release stating the count of petitions received and process used. The below article focuses on the same.
Summary of USCIS Press Release : 172,500 Petitions Received
- USCIS received about 172,500 petitions towards the H1B Visa 2015 Cap. They received more than 20,000 petitions filed towards the Masters quota cap.
- Computer generated random selection/ Lottery was conducted by USCIS on the total H1B petitions received until April 7th.
- Lottery/ Random Selection Process :
- Computer Generated Random Selection process was used to execute lottery.( No need to worry about human process that can raise doubts )
- USCIS conducted lottery for Advanced Degree/ Masters degree quota petitions and selected 20,000 from them towards the Masters degree cap completion.
- The H1B petitions that were filed under master’s quota cap, but not selected in the first round of lottery were added to the regular quota lottery pool of petitions.
- Lottery was conducted with the above combined pool to select 65,000 petitions towards the Regular quota cap completion.
- USCIS will reject and return the H1B petitions with the filing fees that were not selected in the above lottery process ( No loss to the employer, only Attorney fees ), that were not found as duplicate. If duplicate, your money will not be returned !
- USCIS will begin premium processing of the H1B Petitions no later than April 28th ( it means that they could be process early as well )
- USCIS will continue to accept petitions that do not fall under H1B Cap, especially petitions that fall under below
- H1B Visa Extensions
- Petitions that were filed towards changes in terms of employment
- Employer change H1B petitions
- Second H1B petitions for concurrent working of an employee
- Petitions that are filed by Educational and research institutions
RedBus2US Lottery Predictions = USCIS Received Petitions FY 2015
We are very happy to say that our H1B Visa Lottery Predictions based on USCIS Data Trends were exactly in-line with the petitions received by USCIS. In February of this year, we predicted that USCIS would receive about 150K to 180 K petitions for FY 2015 quota, and our predictions were right ! We are very happy that our predictions have been consistently right ! Hope some of you were able to plan ahead of time with our predictions. All of our readers have been amazing and collaborating well. Thanks for all your support !
We are revamping our H1B Tracker, please add your case, if you get selected in lottery to our H1B Tracker ! It will be great to see the processing times.
What are your thoughts on this years H1B Season ? Did you expect more ?
What should USCIS do to meet the demand ?
Reference : USCIS Website : USCIS Reaches FY 2015
Congrats to the people who got selected!!! Did all the Ad PP candidates got the email at the same time from USCIS?? I am an Ad PP candidate waiting for the reply?
me too waiting for reply
Master PP, Vermont.
Haven’t heard anything yet.
I’m freaking out.
I wanna go home now…
same here dude..
Do not worry man, I totally understand your frustration. 15 minutes back I talked to my attorney, she said, No need to worry, even for premium processing it will go till 28th april, or even there is a chance it will go further. She just called me 5 minutes back, that i made it through the lottery. Chill. AD/PP/Vermont.EAC141345XXXX
Is ur attorney Desi?
Fragomen, PP, no updates yet
Yup, no updates. My application is under AD-PP. Did anyone get a chance to contact Fragomen and check if they started receiving any emails with receipts?
i contacted them thy said that they would know in weeks.
The comments just keep on coming! Amazing forum to get real time news! Congratulations to everyone who is thru!
-Masters Non-Premium Applicant
Same here. I cant do anything at work right now.
AD non PP as well.
I feel better knowing I’m not the only one who can’t focus at work!
I’m in the AD non-PP boat. Good luck everyone!
Same here ! I lost my focus. The only thing that I do is nothing but checking this site. I lost my appetite and did not sleep for last two nights. I almost did nothing today at work. I do not drive with cautious and totally lost. Just smoke and walk around ! 🙁
I kinda wish I didn’t check this forum.
I checked this around 2pm. Before that I was all fine now I am all freaking out and refreshing this page over and over again.
Same here. I guess seeing that some ppl are getting in and hearing back and we are not has us on edge. This sucks.
Does anyone know how the big firms handle receipts? I’m wondering specifically about Seyfarth Shaw. I imagine that they group receipts in batches before informing the applicants?
Or do they update your Immstar (or similar portal) first?
Freaking out here, in case you can’t tell
Do all the premium applicants selected through lottery get notified at the same time? My friend and I had applied together, he got the case number but no news for me yet. Thanks in advance
Why I feel that people without receipt case has been kicked out the round.
Never get through this situation. I want to get the hell out of US
Kumar,
They are not notified together and will continue to receive email notifications over next 2-3 weeks.
congratulations
Any one PP, General got a reply?
Can anybody received the email receipt report here? Can’t have this endless waiting.
I applied for Vermont Center but has not received any reply from my attorney even if I send email to her. Don’t know why I have to pay so much attorney fees without any service from them.
Application got picked up. Masters, Premium processing. Vermont Processing center.
Good luck. May your dreams come true.
Thanks, why I feel my dream can not come true.
the same from your criteria. I don’t get any response. Does that mean I am not selected?
PP receipts will be send through email and regular quota receipts will be send through regular mail.
Any PP Non-AD receipts?
For those who received the receipts are you on premium process?
Yes.. all of them must have applied in PP.. regular quota receipts will be sent in regular mail and not email..
I got a receipt today morning. Does it mean my application was selected in the lottery ?
Did you apply in Master’s Premium processing??
Yes, I applied under premium processing and the masters quota.
Congrats, they have given you some no. starting from EAC if you have filed in vermont center.
Yes..Congratulations.. did you apply under masters cap?
anybody applying through DWT firm got an update ?
Anyone applying via Fragomen got an email notification yet?
not yet..
Nope. Monitoring fragomen case update too, in case that something comes out from there.
Applied as PP AD. No updates from Fragomen yet.
Same here, applied through Fragomen. They told me they started receiving emails from USCIS last night and will keep getting them and will notify each person as soon as they get an email about their case. Hold tight.
I applied via Fragomen too, no reply, tracking my status in Fragomen account and fingers crossed!
which fragomen location have you applied
It’s my company that applied through them and apparently every time I message them they reply within a minute. I believe it’s because my company pays them a hell a lot of money to file each case (15k-20k) from what I heard, and they make sure to reply to us at least. But yea, he told me they started coming in last night and all through out the day and about every applicant they hear about, they notify them straight away. He said they will keep coming for the next few days, *fingers crossed*
No. My petition was from Fragomen too. I have not received anything yet.
AD / Regular through Fragomen…haven’t heard anything yet !
Fragomen applied on my behalf as well. AD / Regular processing. I guess today only people that did PP are getting emails.
Same here. Fragomen PP AD
I applied through fragomen PP, i got receipt number where i can track the status. It was some california center they applied to
Has anyone from the California Service Center received a receipt yet? I believe only Vermont has started sending out receipts for AD PP?
Yes, I have a friend who got receipt from Cali center and he is PP Masters
I received bro
I am still waiting too..
waiting
This endless wait is hard
jus received confirmation from attorney that mine was also picked..
im under masters Cap with Premium processing
And i filed it in Vermont Service Center
Congratulations!
congrats! So did your lawyer/employer provide you with a receipt number?
ya, they just did..
First they said they received the receipt for my application, then i emailed them back asking for receipt no .. and they jus sent me that info
Ok. Thank you for the information. I believe your receipt # starts with EAC********** . correct?
went through lottery.. just received an email from attorney..
Was it in pp ad or pp general?
Hey. Was it AD PP or Regular PP?
pp masters (AD)..
Thank you! It seems that USCIS is starting from AD cap.
congrats man!
Congrats..Which service center?
Also did you receive a receipt #?
Folks
Anyone in regular group getting notified, pls inform this group.
Eager to know if anyone from pp General got recept
Has anyone from a non AD PP received an email regarding their petition and receipt number?
I am a newbie. First time into the lottery. 172k applications. OMG
Wish you guys luck.
My HR informed today at around 11:15 PM EST that my case is picked. I was filed for Masters under premium processing.
However I was not given any receipt/case number for me to track. Can anyone tell me if it is too early to be expecting a receipt #?
I am sorry I meant 11:30am CST
GODD SAVE ME!! I am too nervous..
It is 11:15 AM EST
congrats!!!
Which service center do you fall under?
Vermont
Was it Masters/PP ? , anyone any news on Non Masters/PP?
I had applied last yr and there was lottery too. I understand the mental agony you all have now.. You dont know what to do, what will happen, what to plan and everything is in limbo till you get stamped! Phew! 6 irritating months
Btw last yr there was 124K application. This year its 50K more! And as time goes by, the comment section in this blog gets muddier! Lot of mud slinging and racial comments
But this blog was one place I could come to see that it is not just me in this situation and there are others too, and good to hear nice words by kind souls! Thanks to Saurabh for having such a forum.
Good luck to all you guys!
The HR manager gave me the news this morning around 11:00 am CST that I got selected in the lottery process. Step 1 cleared.
Best of luck to everyone else..
Congrats Bikash!
Was yours and AD application?
Bikash,
Are you under regular cap or master cap?
Thanks!
? it is now 10.30 CST ?
Congrats! Master and Premium ? Have a great time.
Hi Bikash
Congrats buddy
Maters Premium
Yes I agree. This forum is awesome!
has anyone received their receipt under regular cap for premium process?
Thanks.
hi
can anyone tell me exactly how can we know our lottery result for h1b regular one.when do attorey get the email? when our money from the bank deducted?
Thanks
Work Authorization for H-4 Spouses:
http://www.lexisnexis.com/legalnewsroom/immigration/b/insidenews/archive/2014/04/08/coming-work-authorization-for-h-4-spouses.aspx
Hi,
if any of you are alread studying in GBC, and if your H1B goes to RFE,
you can contact me. Last year I was in the same boat but after huge struggle, i got my H1 approved. If you are from GBC and applied for H1, you can contact me at ashdev805 at google mail. I can help you with list of documents and the documents needed and what you should ask your attorney to prepare..
What is GBC?
Hey guys, anybody got the receipt for master’s degree Premium processing??
Yep I did.
Anybody received premium receipt without masters? (regular cap)
I am in!!
Just got an email from the attorney’s office. They sent the email confirmation.
EAC1413151XXX
That was quick! Congrats!
I am assuming you filed in premium processing?
Thanks,
Yeah PP with masters.
I really feels its fake. the receipt number doesn’t seems legit!!
From: VermontPremium
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 7:44 AM
To: XXXXX@XXXXXXXX.XXX
Subject: EAC1413151XXX- Premium Processing Receipt
Importance: High
The Vermont Service Center has received the following
I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
that had been filed under the Premium Processing Service:
Receipt Number: EAC1413151XXX
Date Received: 04/10/2014
Petitioner: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Beneficiary: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
DOB: XX/XX/XX
Classification sought: H1B
The Form I-797 Receipt Notice will follow in the mail.
The Vermont Service Center will adjudicate this case within
15 calendar days of the “received date” set forth above.
If approved, you will receive e-mail notification of such.
If we require additional evidence, we will fax said request to the fax
number provided on your completed I-907 Request for Premium Processing Form.
Please do not reply directly to this message. The e-mail account used to
send this message is used by the Service Center only to send messages
notifying filers of premium processing case information.
Thank you for using the USCIS Premium Processing Service.
Congrats!!
Congratulations buddy…. you can move on.. the wait continues for us… not even able to concentrate at work today….. 🙁
Right, not able to concentrate on anything.
I copied the whole email from VermontCenter
Waiting on moderation.
Feel as you want…. but it’s real…..
Wish you all the best Buddy and congrats!
It was quick, who else got the ticket?
Got it this morning.
So worried about me result~~~
Good luck to everyone!
Saurabh,
It means those who are not selected, they have to wait for until July for confirmation. I mean they are just stuck.
Is there any other way to get it 100% confirm that a particular person is not selected.
Saurabh S,
The only way to say with 100% certainty is to wait for rejection letter.
Saurabh,
It means those who are not selected they have to wait until July. Till then nothing is confirmed.
Saurabh S,
Last year rejection letters started going out in last week of May and all through June. If they follow same timeline then some may know about their rejection in July.
Hi,
Please check how much time will it take to reach unselected filings to employer as lottery happend yesterday as per UCSIS
thanks,
srini
Saurabh, but isn’t it that everybody gets assigned a case number by Apr28, irrespective of premium processing? And this is how we would know if we passed the lottery even before the letter of approval?
Also, are wait list cases selected randomly? Those have to wait the longest, so I’m wondering if that cab happen to premium processing cases too?
Thanks!
Question,
They will start entering selected PP applications into the system first followed by non-PP applications. April 28th date is the official start date for PP applications and is not related to data entry for non-PP applications. Last year, non-PP applicants continued to receive their receipt numbers till June end.
As for waiting list, yes they keep aside handful of petitions for this purpose. The list is not published anywhere and I think the petitioners are informed that their petition has been added to the wait list.
Thank you for your reply! Is there a way for me to upgrade to premium processing at this point in time?
Question,
It can be upgraded to PP only after it has been selected in the petition and you know your receipt number.
Is there any information out there as to how many Master’s applications have been received. I know USCIS has only put the total figure on it’s website. I didnt make it through in last year’s stupid lottery.. Hopefully this year fortune favors us all !!
Good luck to everyone!!!
My H1B application didn’t picked up in the last year lottery. Waiting for my luck in this year lottery.
Hey Ramakrishna,
Good luck to you man. Same boat as you.
Even me too, I missed in the lottery in Last year.
Same here is the case
Very good page !Gives a good knowledge to all people sitting eagerly at home waiting for the results !
Are you sure they will send the postal mail to the regular applicant (no apply the premium process)? It will take a long time. Send a eamil just need one minute. When can I check with company whether I get the H1b if they postal mail?
Brain,
Yes, they will send regular postal mail to all non-PP petitioners.
I was fu**ed by this lottery thing last year.
hope it doenst repeat this year.
looks like huge amount of application came in… so is it that the consultancies came to know abt the selection early after the PP cases
USCIS received about 172,500 H-1B petitions during the filing period which began April 1, including petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption. On April 10, 2014, USCIS completed a computer-generated random selection process, or lottery, to select enough petitions to meet the 65,000 general-category cap and 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption.
Thanks Saurabh! your posts are helpful.
How will I know whether my H1B is selected in lottery.?
When I will come to know this? How many days it takes ?
Sat,
PP cases will be notified first via email, followed by non-PP cases via regular mail. Former will take few weeks while the latter will take few months.
I heard that USCIS will communicate to the law firms about lottery result (only application filled by them). I mean they will send emails to law firms/attorney for those who got selected in lottery.
Now that the lottery has been performed, how will the results be communicated to the law firms who have filed applications? Do the firms basically wait for USCIS to mail them either confirmation or returned applications, or is their electronic notification for filed applications?
Sachin,
PP applications will be notified via email about their selection. All other petitions will be notified through postal mail about the selection or rejection.
Ah, thanks for the info. If priority applicants are notified by email, then the law firm could be notified as soon as tomorrow perhaps? Assuming they don’t have to do any processing to capture the email information…
Also, I know this information is never published, but what’s your best guess on the percent of applications eligible for the master’s cap?
Sachin,
They may start notifying from tomorrow, but not everyone will be notified at the same time. You may see email receipts to come through for next few weeks.
If I have to guess AD number, my guess would be 30-35K.
Ah, thanks again.
Well, if ~20% of the applications are eligible for the master’s pool, then the master’s lottery success probability will be ~75%, and the non-master’s success probability is around ~42%.
Saurabh,
The only way that we , application would get notified is through the employer isnt it ?
Saurabh,
The only way that we , applicants would get notified is through the employer isnt it ?
Raj,
Yes, USCIS will contact the employer or attorney, and they will pass on the information to you.
Thanks Bro,,
Need to know the results of the lottery conducted for H1B – FY2015
Is there any time bound as to when we can know the results of lottery. Normally USCIS communicates to Attorney and then it goes to consultants / Immigration team and finally to candidate. but till what date candidates have to wait.
James,
Selected PP cases are informed first and should be done by May 12. After that selected non-PP cases are informed and should be done by July. Sometime in June, non-selected cases should also start hearing back.
Surabh,
How do you know these dates (May 12 for PP and by-July for non-PP cases)?
Also, does this mean that non-PP cases will not hear anything until after May 12?
I applied in AD non-PP.
Thanks.
Enrique,
Official start date for PP cases is April 28 and they need to be adjudicated within 15 calendar days. That brings the date to May 12 for PP.
Non-PP date of July is based on last year’s experience.