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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. Guys please dont loose your hope 😛
    My application got picked today afternoon.
    Advance degree/Premium process/California service centre

    Be patient till Monday.
    all the best for you guys.

    Reply
  2. Just checked with SEVIS. My OPT status is still active. Which means I did not get picked in the lottery. AD/PP here. Last chance. Good bye US. Was good while it lasted… 🙂

    Reply
    • While I dont know what would be the out come by early next week… I would say not to loase hope yet and make conclusions based on Sevis status.

      I received confirmation from lawyer that mine H1 appln was picked last friday and my Sevis is still Active.

      So pray wait and hope for the best.

      Reply
      • Thanks CG. That gives me some hope. Though, I just kind of want to get done with this now, so I can focus on the next steps. Hopefully Canada will take me in. 🙂

        Reply
    • Hope some miracle happens in these When I contacted school, my DSO replied:

      SEVIS has no record of your H1B application. This is not unusual – in fact it is more common that SEVIS would have only your F-1 data, and nothing about your H1B data. Sometimes there is an automated notice of H1B approval added to the SEVIS record, but it is not a consistently reported item.

      A ray of hope 😀

      Reply
  3. Guys,
    Lets start planning the next steps. People who have not heard yet, what are you planning to do next? any suggestions?

    Reply
  4. Dude, I know your frustration.
    I am from Tamil nadu, work in chennai.
    Can you show me a IT company in india with 200+ strength with no Andhra guy?
    They are every where, so obviously h1 applicants will be high from AP.
    That doesn’t mean that all are fake.

    Reply
  5. It’s funny how the moment luck doesn’t go your way, you find some bogeyman to blame everything on. Some people blame infy, some indians , some andhra folks.

    How about accepting that it is a matter of chance and it didn’t come through

    Reply
  6. These fake consultancies and these fake resumes are all coming from same single country named as India. All this H1B system is messed up because of these fake a**holes applying like termites from India. And just because of this, genuine people from other countries are suffering. USCIS should strongly consider in giving cap for each country in H1B lottery so that every other nation should get equal chances and Indians should suffer their own consequences.

    Reply
      • Another Indian asking for a proof … What a joke … Interviewed an Indian for a IT contractor position having more than 8+ experience and sponsored by some shit consultancy … Wasn’t able to answer a single programming question … Rejected him right away but seriously thought how this guy have reached US

        And just because of guys like you these fakers now I have developed a strong hatred towards Indians

        Reply
        • If you think that companies like TCS, WIPRO & INFOSYS, they have very talented and skilled people in the company, you are mistaken. Most of my friends work in TCS and INFOSYS. They do the shit work. I know companies like TCS and WIPRO fool their clients. Stop being such a pathetic and mind your own business instead of commenting on other companies.

          Reply
          • Infosys Fined because of doing such a shitty work…don’t forget. They don’t know the struggle Masters students face here. They are in a bubble of shit.

        • Show me the proof! post his resume here and his company name? tell me your interview questions? whats the proof that you asked proper questions lol! may be he was java developer and you asked dotnet questions who know! whats the proof??

          Reply
        • We Indians eating you job because you lazyass dont want to study, you performance in maths is pathetic and you want to get job in US. Get a life !!!!!

          Reply
      • gimme your email address, and I will send you resumes of these fakers that I interviewed in the last few months.
        2 of them had exact same content on their resumes. Asked which area their office for one of the clients in SFO is located, they had absolutely no clue. They had absolutely no F***ing clue about few very popular landmarks in the city. They have never been to SFO in the first place, but on their resume they have worked in SFO for 2 years.

        Reply
        • I dont understand one thing.. if you are good enough to take interviews of Indian IT guys. What on earth are you doing in this website tracking H1 updates.

          Reply
    • Well, you can build your perception, it is in your hands. But fact is, all big brands like Microsoft, Amazon, NASA, Apple etc have atleast 40% Indians working. I would suggest you to prepare your facts before uttering hatred toward a community as a whole…

      Reply
  7. Hubby got news from attorney this morning case got picked.
    AD/PP/CSC single petition 2nd year
    Never received email from USCIS or maybe attorney missed it (thank you Fragomen) and they got paper receipts today. Almost gave up and prepare for plan B
    Thank God! Don’t lose hope folks!

    Reply
    • No it’s not. Even if that was true, why would you complain to USCIS? There is no upper limit on the H1Bs that can be filed by a company.

      Reply
    • The government will not do anything Ruby. We just have to be the sufferers i guess. Not just infosys. CTS, TCS, Wipro together make up a large chunk of applicants. These 4 companies take up atleast 20K visas together (conservative estimate from data available) which means they would have had to apply to visas atleast 3 times that number. Infosys, CTS, TCS and wipro are very confident that the US Govt works for them. Nothing will ever happen to them. I wish we could all pool in and complain. People who have an issue with fake consultants, should have a problem with these companies too, because these companies are contributing to the desi consultancies indulging in malpractice. Anyway, I mostly didnt make it through this time eventhough i had a very job job waiting from a top MNC here in the US. I guess people like us will always be the losers and we cant do a thing about it as long as the government works for corporations. I so hate the Indian companies even though i’m indian. I’m thinking of applying through consultancies next year because of this nonsense. Lets see how that goes. Clearly, straight ways dont work. 🙁

      Reply
      • Dude, it really doesn’t matter whether you apply thru a consultancy, MNC or even thru US govt.. If you have to get it, you will get it.. and this applies for everything in life.. it is called Destiny!! Good luck!!

        Reply
      • lol so everyone other than you entering in the lottery system is undeserving and only you have right to the visa given that you did masters in the US and recieved double lottery chance for that . Just because you didn’t get through the lottery , you dragged in US government to all the big companies lol. Never mind the fact that there may be far more deserving people than you who didnt get through

        Reply
    • That stat is absolutely rubbish unless you give us a source from where you are getting this data. USCIS does not release this kind of information like how many applications were received from a particular company. Clearly you must have got your information from a wrong source.

      Reply
      • I am not sure about 1 thing-Its been known (correct me if I am wrong)-That H1B sponsor has to be a US based employer Right?.Than how come Indian MNC’s are able to file these petitions?.I agree they have offices in US but that’s not their place of origin.Its something like China opens up some facility in India and than starts sending Chineese workforce to India instead of hiring local talent.Definitely Indian govt,opposition and Workers Union will oppose this move than why US is so free and careless towards their people.Outsiders should be given Visa only if some US based employer needs skilled workers not available in US and hence make an offer to someone outside US and issued Visa-That’s what I have read in Terms and Conditions for H1B but they are not being followed.I am an Indian,working for US origin Software Major who filed for my H1B for a critical project/skillset that I am trained on after being employed with them for 4 years now.

        Reply
  8. I haven’t heard from my lawyer/employer yet.
    I don’t know how lawyers can see if the cash is checked.I mean your employer sends your filling fee.
    I m non-AD/RP.I Believe AD will send out first then non-AD for Regular. So we have two more weeks.
    PP will most likely be over tomorrow.
    I have been here for 9 years and I’m opt ext.I have to get it.
    God is on our side,Hard work will pay off.BE Patient.

    Reply
  9. Is there such a thing where the RP – AD applicants’ application receipts are sent first, and the RP – Non-AD application receipts?

    Reply
  10. Anyone filed from TRINGAPPS here? TRINGAPPS, anyone?

    I have no info about the kind of visas been filed, the centre they were filed in, or the type.

    Someone from TRINGAPPS lurking here who have some information?

    Reply
    • Should we lose hope for AD/PP/VT by next Monday on the 27th? I read that some people received both receipt notice and decision sometimes. Let’s hope that’s the case?

      Reply
    • Me too same AD/PP/VT… Do fragoman people give update promptly? I doubt.. as I never ever got to talk to the person handling my case..always voicemail… and they reply atlst 1-2 days later even to urgent emails..

      Reply
  11. My petition got picked in Lottery today.
    Attorney didn;t get any response but when I cheked with my school, they gave me receipt number.
    Looks like Vermont is processing the AD/RP very quickly.
    All the best to my dear Indians who are all waiting for their status.

    AD/RP/Single App/First Time
    Note: We will be placed where we belong.

    Reply
    • Can i know the first letter of your last name.

      I have a theory that response is sent out in the alphabetical order of last name. my last name starts with ‘V’ 🙁

      Reply
      • That’s an interesting theory. Last year, I got my receipt on April 22nd (regular processing), and my last name starts with a B.

        Reply
      • A.
        But My colleagues here are having their last name starts with K and their’s also picked.
        Anyway, All the best. The game is not over yet.

        Reply
      • Doubt that is the case. I also had this same notion regarding Alphabetical order but mine Sur Name starts with S and i came to know from my DSO my status changed and they provided me the receipt number yesterday

        Reply
  12. I guess it’s game over for PP/AD applicants. It’s unfortunate to see life change so quickly and not being able to control that change makes it even worse.

    Guys, please realize H1B is just a visa at the end of the day and it’s not the end of the world. I wish all the applicants the very best and hope we all succeed in life no matter where we are.

    Signing off!

    Reply
  13. ADV / RP / CA CENTER/ Check Cashed this morning, not even last night 11PM. SEVIS was active yesterday. Hope you all good luck!!!

    Reply
  14. I don’t have premium, but my lawyer informed me that the check for my application fee has been cashed. He hasn’t received the receipt yet, but he said it means I’m approved.
    I wanna ask is this true? or it only means I’m picked for review?

    Reply
  15. can any expert of this forum suggest that what would be the last day we can expect PP receipts.. I know practically chances are going down with every passing hour but was wondering IS it always fixed that date on which PP processing would start receipt will be sent ( in this year by 27th April) OR people will get receipt starting 27th as-well when their cases are in process of getting approved.. Thanks for answer in adv!!!

    Reply
    • Chances of getting receipt notice after 27th April are very less but you can check with your employer/attorney. You should get your petition approval/RFE by 11th May if you are selected in the lottery. After that date, there is no hope for anyone in PP.

      Reply
  16. Hi guys,

    I’ve noticed people referencing Fragomen Portal. Can you please provide link/explain what that is?

    My application is thru them, Non-AD/PP/VT. Waiting…

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • It was with which company, normally there is a company specific link, e.g if you are with Deloitte, there is a common link using which you can check your case.. All the best

      Reply
      • Thanks for your reply. It is with Credit Suisse. I did not hear of a portal so maybe there isn’t one for every company…

        Reply
        • Yes it could be .. anyway dont loose hope, as I anyway see these Fragomen guys are very slow in response.. there are 15 H1b Filed whom I know personally. Though it is very well possible that none of them got through but still no response from Fragomen keeps fuel to increase worry during these moments….

          Reply
          • Hi possible,

            Yes you have a good point. Maybe some lawyer offices are not releasing any info yet. It is extremely unlikely that none of the 15 petitions you mentioned has been selected.

            Good luck to everyone!

  17. My wife’s COS payment just processed by VSC. Does that mean ive been picked in lottery? Any answers helpful.

    Reply
  18. Every body here is concerned about H1B but look at your home country,your home country needs you.Change India into a place like US instead of working as a slave in foreign country.Why no body is thinking in this perspective.Every time we complain that things are not changing but no body that realize that they have real power to change everything

    Reply
    • Even after living in India.. we are working for companies situated there. that too on meager pay scale. We can at least go there and make our lives good and save for future and obviously return back to India

      Reply
    • I tried my best but never got a call, but unlike in US where the US employer identifies the spark in us and recruits us. India does not do that. The employers there especially the HR follows the robotic protocol of 4-7 years experience and puts up 20 different technologies in the requirement list..
      To crown it all the HR in Indian IT companies are rude, with least concern for their employees…

      Reply
  19. All that matters is the Degree certificate.My employer never asked me semester level certificates and only the Engg and MBA degree of mine.

    Reply
  20. I have applied for H1B. while the results are awaited, I realized that I do not have the marks sheet for one of the semesters of graduation. Although I have the degree. Would the missing marks sheet be a problem?

    Reply
    • All that matters is the Degree certificate.My employer never asked me semester level certificates and only the Engg and MBA degree of mine.

      Reply
  21. While waiting to the end of this horrible experience I realized how much I want to stay in US… Found man on my life, great job, friends. And then all of it could end in the moment. In last few weeks I created several options what to do and all of them would be more or less painful. But we all have some options. I wish you not only the luck, but also strength and optimism for next phase of your life. One closed door means opening other one.

    Reply
  22. I have received update from my visa team to give them documents pertaining to 1) join account of me and my spouse 2) receipt number of my spouse (my spuse has valid h1b) 3) highest education degree of my spouse….The team started the email with the statement “To move ahead with your H1B cap case, we need following information”….Does this mean that I was selected in the lottery? Mine is Non-AD/RP (Last year was also Non-AD/RP but didnt get selected in lottery)

    Reply
  23. Hello everyone,
    AD/PP OPT candidate here – now evaluating Plan B. 🙁
    I wanted to know if EY is generally open to providing opportunities in other foreign countries…don’t want to go back to India immediately as I have a huge loan to repay. Any personal experiences that one could share? I also wanted to know if it is difficult to get a UK visa as much as it is to get a US one. Thanks!

    Reply
        • Link to fragomen portal please, I know my employer also filed with fragomen but sure about portal.

          Thanks,
          Shabbir Hussain

          Reply
          • Hi
            I work for one of the big giant in oil and gas. They have just opened an office in USA. And I am the only one on OPT out of 300 employees. I Couldn’t get picked this time in lottery this year (1st Attempt PP). My employer is not e-verified but very co-operative and ready to help in any scenario. He has asked me to find out what are my options available.

            My question is can you file Green card directly from F-1 without getting H1B ? I have 4 years of experience in India and a masters here in US and around 1 year experience in US.
            Good Luck to all RP friends, have been through this for last week and half. Hope most of the genuine applications get picked/ Not too many get picked multiple times.

          • Below is the link, i dont think it works for you.
            Because it routes us to fragomen though deloittenet, anyway u can give a try.

            deloittenet.deloitte.com/CL/Global/Immig/Pages/Contacts.aspx)

    • Im in the same boat. Today I called lawyer and they said today 4/22 and tomorrow 4/23 would be the final days to send an email for PP from VT. but I dont trust that, cause many applicants got the PP receip # after starting PP though on last year.

      Reply
  24. Guys I came across this receipt number EAC1513452638 , it says petition was approved? so early how is it possible? Uscis has already started processing applications??? Thanks.

    Reply

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