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USCIS News Alert : H1B 2016 Premium Processing from April 27th

As you know, yesterday USCIS released an official press note indicating that they received about 233,000 petitions and H1B lottery was completed. As of yesterday,  USCIS indicated that the premium processing will begin no later than May 11th, 2015.

Today, USCIS released a news alert indicating that the premium processing for H1B Visa 2016 petitions will start from April 27th, 2015.

What does this change in premium processing date mean to everyone in H1B 2016 quota ? 

It simply means that, if someone filed their H1B petition in FY 2016 quota under either in masters quota or regular quota and filed it under premium processing their 15 days clock for adjudicating the petition starts from April 27th.  Technically, if everything was right and there is no RFE they should have a decision within 15 calendar days starting from April 27th, which would be May 11th.

So, technically, premium processing candidates for FY 2016 should receive their H1B case petition numbers/ receipt notices starting anytime from today via email.  They should ideally have H1B case number by April 28th or 29th. USCIS might take some more time to release the case number or receipt notices for the regular processing petitions, as there is no SLA or time commitment.

This clearly tells us that the number of premium processing petitions filed this year were more or less same as last year and not too many filed under premium processing as USCIS anticipated. They adjusted the dates based on the work load they have.  Also, with the push in the premium processing dates, hopefully, regular processing candidates petitions are processed slightly faster as well…lets hope so !

Also, they indicated in the press note that no changes to the premium processing petitions filed that are cap-exempt. Their processing continues to stick to the 15 calendar days starting from the day USCIS received the petition with the fee. Also, you may read the below to clarify on the processing times.

H1B 2016 Premium, Regular Processing time, Receipts Info

What are your thoughts on the H1B processing timelines by USCIS ?

Reference : USCIS Alert on Premium processing

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Author
Satheesh Kumar Ilu
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.

   

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2,861 Comments

  1. Seems VT RP is started. My DSO informed me about the change of Status along with the Receipt Number. Yet to hear back from my attorney

    Reply
  2. Is there any person in this forum who got receipt for Deloitte/Fragomen. Both AD/PP and Non AD/PP.. no one I know have received yet.. So I am not really sure how its going.. Any thoughts ??

    Reply
    • I got receipt for Deloitte/Fragomen yesterday. AD/PP/VT. Their portal got updated first with the receipt number and got an email from the lawyer later in the afternoon. Is your center VT or CA? Hang in there. I think the receipts are still coming through. Good luck.

      Reply
  3. AD/Regular/CA –
    Called School and they told me that there is no change in my sevis. Does it mean i didn’t get picked ??

    Reply
    • Hello,

      Well it may or may not mean the approval of h1b. Someone came up with this idea of conforming it with sevis also people conforming your status may not be looking at right place.

      Just relax and wait. Dont come to conclusion till u get official conformation.

      Thank you

      Reply
  4. Regular processing receipts are out. My application got picked. 😛
    Regular process/Advance degree/California service center

    Reply
  5. Got an email from USCIS saying we received your application on April 20th and the status is acceptance. Can someone please tell me what does this mean.

    Reply
  6. Hello, Any Update on AD/RP. Saw some posts in the comments section where people commented saying their checks got cashed and got a receipt too.

    Reply
  7. So frustrated with Fragomen! My EAD will expire on May 30, but I heard that they will email you the result only after they receive hard copies from USCIS.. never respond by email or phone. Guys, don’t use this company in the future

    Reply
  8. It seems, VSC sent receipts for about 4300+ applicants so far…

    FYI: Check the range (EAC1513850001 – EAC1513854323) in uscis case status page.

    Reply
  9. wait a second…. how did we allow US H1-B rules to have so much influence on our lives ? Get back the control of your life. shun USA.

    Reply
  10. I contacted the SEVIS people and asked for my SEVIS ID status, all they told was it is “active”. Just to confirm, shouldn’t all students, even the ones who have received the receipt numbers be active for now?

    Reply
  11. Any sevis status change today? My sevis wasn’t changed till yesterday evening. Wondering if there is any hope? Not heard anything from attorney too. (2nd time)

    Reply
  12. AD/RP/VT/Single Petition

    Got the word from the lawyer, my check was cheshed yesterday 4/21. No receipt yet.

    Looks RP has started.

    BEST LUCK TO ALL.

    Reply
  13. On April 21, 2015, we received your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Receipt Number EAC15137544XX and emailed you a receipt notice. It is being processed at our Vermont Service Center location

    Reply
  14. Non-Ad PP VSC. 1st attempt, single application.
    Got picked
    No email yet. Employer confirmed cheque encashed and receipt number was mentioned in it.
    Good luck folks

    Reply
  15. i like the thrill of waiting to know the lottery result.Excitement will continue until you know the result i would prefer to know the status very late even if i m not picked so that i can live in this excitement for some time.Enjoy life ,i have applied for the first time and only one application

    Reply
      • i m already in another country having a nice salary so will not worry even i didnt get picked in lottery.I attended a interview and got this offer.Not paid even single penny

        Reply
          • cheer up man enjoy every moment of your life,you will get your chance in life dont worry dont get stressed…

          • Getting stressed is not going to help your cause. If not US, some other nation, if not other countries, our own country is there and we can try next time

        • I am afraid this could rather hurt many here. You are saying getting H1B or not won’t bring much difference to your life and for most here it’s all about that. Hence it’s thrill and excitement to you whereas most are desperate and anxious.

          Reply
  16. Called school DSO today, told me a change of status pending and a EAC number of EAC 1513850774. Strangely enough, Fragomen portal is showing nothing and they claim they have never received anything…….I work for one of the big 4’s consulting. Fragomen this year has been very unresponsive and I guess they might just want to bulk confirm with the company at the end

    Reply
  17. “If you want to reach a goal, you must ‘see the reaching’ in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal.”

    Reply
  18. AD/PP/VT/2nd try/single petition
    Got the receipt number EAC1513****** this morning! Our tracking system had a 2 day delay – the receipt was issued April 20.

    For the people that worry about the scale of your employers: I work for one of the big four public accounting firms and last year I didn’t get picked. So I’m pretty sure that the lottery does not discriminate against small employers, and is “fair” (sarcastically, since the process itself is really not, given the loophole takers and the pure mathematical solution attempt to a sophisticated social problem).

    Keep your heads up guys! May the odds be ever in your favor

    Reply
  19. The most conclusive thing to do is to check your SEVIS status on Monday. If it’s unchanged, I guess that’s it for all of us. (PP)

    Reply
  20. Got an update from a friend who called his lawyer and they confirmed his selection (ad.pp.vt). Apparently they got the confirmation 2 days ago but were waiting for 27th to bulk email his company.

    Moral of the story is don’t lose heart. You may have got it but don’t know yet.

    P.s. not Fragomen

    Reply
  21. How are you guys finding out if a cheque has been cashed? I thought with H-1b your sponsoring company had to fund the process but it seem like many of you have used cheques from personal accounts?

    Reply
  22. The deadline is April 27, 2015, does that mean they will work during weekend??? or,, it means by this Friday, if nothing happens, the chance is slim….

    PP/AD/VT..Any one receive today???

    Reply
    • I would say wait till next wednesday. Most of the attorneys will send out notification to the employer in bulk. So they might wait a little longer.

      Reply
  23. Called my DSO today. Apparently she can’t check my Cap gap status until I provide her with a receipt number. Sounds like a catch 22. So she’s either miss informed or I’m reading too much into it. I guess I can only wait. AD/RP/CA

    Reply
    • She can surely check your SEVIS status with your SEVIS ID. Probably she has got too many requests and doesn’t want to help.

      Reply
      • I figured! I have a STEM extension application pending, which she checked, and replied that it was indeed pending. Idk what the deal is… After spending 5 years there doing research and raking up grant money for the Uni. she can’t bother to waste 10 secs to check if my cap gap is pending as well. ;/ oh people…

        Reply
  24. How many guys of you use Fragomen and get notice from them? I heard that a lot of company never gets any messages from them! At least 10 of my coworkers are still waiting. Are they too busy to send emails? Anybody has the same situation?

    Reply
    • My company applied through Fragomen
      My friend called DSO and got to know EAC (it was updated on monday) But no news from Fragomen. This update is on 4/22 by 1030 AM
      We have only 2 H1B applications in total from our company.one is cleared, I have started praying again ( AD/PP/VT) Don’t loose hope

      Reply
    • Not yet, I am in a NY based organization and haven’t heard anything yet from Fragomen. Second time for me and few other in my office.

      Reply
    • I worked with them last year (didn’t get). Not only didn’t they file on time (april 3 as opposed to april 1) it was a horrible experience overall.

      Reply
      • Congrats.. Quick question, how do you know your check got cashed.. my VISA is also filed by Fragomen but apart from checking their portal I have no way to check..While asking them I m getting template reply to Wait :).. Thanks for answer..

        Reply
        • Not sure what the deal is but its hard to believe that Fragomen has not received email receipts for PP cases till now when people all around are posting results. They might be releasing the results in phases. At the moment “Hope” and “Fragomen Portal” is the thing to hang onto.

          Reply
          • What do you mean “portal” ? Did they give you any account number to check your status on their website?

          • Yes, actually there a website for the company for which they filed ur H1B.. and they keep on saying we will update the case as soon as info is received.. and we keep on refreshign webpage :).. thats how it was last year.. similar going this year.. after too many mails at last they told me that application was filed to Vermont, so I am still keeping some hopes. ..

          • Do you mind giving me that portal website? I just want to check what is going on with them. Me and My coworkers are very worried about our cases

    • Still checks getting cashed for AD/PP/CA.. wondering what are the chances for AD/PP/VT (second time)? Fragomen not giving any update.

      Reply
  25. Has anyone used Foster LLP from Houston to file the petition? If so, have any of you heard back for PP/AD?

    On the verge of giving up but holding on with a thread till Friday.

    Reply
  26. AD/PP/Ver

    I do not see a lot of confirmations from Vermont on yesterday. Is the Vermont processing done (or almost done) for PP?
    A lot of people have heard back in my company but I have not heard anything. You think there is still hope?

    Reply
  27. And you’re too talented to deserve the title of ” Idiot”. Suits at it’s best as you’ve fooled multiple companies.
    So, Unethical, don’t support yourself!!!
    If you’re too talented you should go for some other visas like Aliens with extra ordinary ability!!!

    Reply
    • To:youidiot

      You should stop considering H-1 as an option and start thinking about using your last post to get a refund on your education.

      Reply
  28. HAhahhaha…!! 15 lol do you atleast know what is the max # of applications you can file. got picked for 8 hahah
    in this way i can say I got picked and they issued me green card ;p

    Reply
    • Most probably done but don’t lose hope and check with your attorney or employer before coming to any conclusion.
      I am (Non-AD/PP/CSC) also waiting for employer’s update as I don’t have contact with attorney.

      Reply

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