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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. Hi All,

    A friend of mine got mail from employer that his cheque got encashed. He has applied in NonAD/Reg. Can someone please guide me that when is he supposed to get receipt/application number ? Is there anything else he can confirm from ? His employer said cheque picked but hasn’t given him anything.

    Best of luck to all.

    Reply
  2. Any one for Non-AD, premium processing? Any one have heard yet from uscis?
    If i dont hear from uscis by 27 april. Does it mean game over for me for h1b?

    Reply
    • Looks like it is over for pp.. As RP receipts are coming now. But you may want to wait for 1-2 more week. Or till all PP is done. Which 15 days from today.

      Reply
      • I am so impatient, I emailed the attorney and no news 🙁 did ur friends use seyfarth? When did they get the receipts? I am bach PP vermont

        Reply
      • 2/5 is statistically what you could have expected from the process. As five-some, if you get anymore than that you have beaten the odds.

        Reply
  3. any body applied through Berry Appleman and Leiden ? have you heard anything from the law firm ?
    My petition was applied by Oracle Inc for hardware engineering, AD/PP/CSC

    Reply
    • Same here. BAL and Oracle, filed at Vermont, NonAD.. I wrote to them.. They gave a standard response of theres still time for receipts to come in, but its too late now so i’ve moved on.

      Reply
      • yes, wise decision to move on, no body but only we feel how it is to go through this. The lawyers have no feeling, the company has no feeling, other americans with whom I discuss , show no signs of emotion… its just sad… no body has an iota of empathy.

        Reply
        • no empathy will get you your VISA man. You yourself shouldn’t show any empathy for this stupid lottery. If u get the receipt its great, if not even better. chill out man.

          Reply
        • I totally agree.. There is nothing wrong we did nor right we could do.. Except for applying from 10 different companies and increasing chances. Lot of us have things at stake or important decisions pending. But trust me.. This stupid lottery not worth loosing our peace of mind or happiness in life. I mean its not end of life or likewise..

          Reply
    • I know two employees of oracle got the notice on 14th April.
      I also work@oracle and I am still waiting for the lottery notice.
      BAL said USCIS haven’t mentioned the time frame for sending out the notices so …. we need to just wait.
      BAL is still getting notices and as they do they informing the applicants.

      Reply
      • thanks for sharing… feels good sharing the grief I guess .. if BAl is informing as soon as they receive notices, then its sad… I was hoping they forgot to inform or something like that ! Hope is a strange thing !

        Reply
        • @Ash, i think BAL is informing people as and when they get receipts. I know because my attorney mentioned that some of “my colleagues” did receive the receipts and i was told to wait. He mentioned i will be informed when they have any additional info. That was on Wednesday. And yes, hope is a weird thing.

          @Ad/PP: thanks for the info. I’m hoping PP guys still get receipts next week.

          May the odds be in our favor 🙂 all the best to both of you and whoever is still hopeful And waiting!

          Reply
  4. Any one filed H1B through DW Practice. This is my 3rd attempt. My petition didn’t picked up in the last 2 years lottery.

    RQ / RP

    Reply
  5. Just gauging how many PP/AD are waiting going into the week ahead, given that PP/AD processing will now start from April 27th.

    I’m starting… +1

    (Any PP/AD still waiting please type in numbers in increasing order, +2,+3,+4 etc…)…this is nerve-wracking…probably some solidarity at this moment will help us all.

    Reply
    • @MSQ: Congrats!!! Is it really true buddy? Because I’m waiting very desperately . If it’s true, it gives some hope whoever waiting like mine.

      Please post center name…

      Thanks in advance.

      Reply
  6. Is there any way we can track the status of H1 except receipt number ? I know that petition was sent via overnight mail. I believe rcpt num is issued after petition is selected. So, until then is there any way to track ?

    Reply
  7. Hi Guys,

    I got a call from my employer that my application has been picked (AD/RP/VT). Two of my friends got picked(AD/RP/CA) and (NAD/RP/VT). We all three applied first and single petition. I hope all who applied single and genuine petition should be picked.

    All the best.

    Reply
    • Yes… one of my friend done Bachelors in US and applied as NAD/RP/CA he got his check enchased on 4/23 and on 4/24 he received hard copy.

      Reply
          • How did he get petition copy when processing hasn’t even begun yet?

            Seems to me you are just making stuff up

          • @NonAdRP
            Dude mt friend said to me same about his petition and he sent me his EAC number. I am not here to post fake comments. This blog helped me a lot to understand whats going around. Feeling responsible to that I shared my updates. Yes my friend NAD/RP/VT with EAC15140XXXXX got his receipt number via mail. I got picked under AD/RP/VT with receipt number EAC15141XXXXX on 4/24.

          • Joe.. even I m bit confused here. A friend ( NAD/REG/CA) of mine informed that he got picked in lottery . When he called his employer, employer said they came to know because cheque got cashed.. Receipt will be sent to them through mail in next few days .. it may take around a month

          • Thats correct for RP/NONADV employesr usually iform upfront when cheques get encashed since formal mail from USCIS takes bit longer.

          • I am AD/RP/VT…. I applied through American Client as full time. They sent me my scan copy of Receipt on 4/24 3:30 PM. In that copy it is dated as Received Date: April 13, 2015 and Notice Date April 23, 2015. My number starts with EAC15141XXXXX. My employer got post mail and he sent scan copy of that to me.

  8. My SEVIS shows pending, rad got extended to September 30, checks have been cashed. However, I still did it get any official notice yet. I am AD/PP. is it normal?

    Reply
  9. NON AD/PP/ don’t know center.
    did they processed for non-ad ? I couldn’t find any comments from non-ad. I’m still waiting for receipt number, and seems like people all talk about RP now. do they conduct lottery for AD and non AD in different time?
    Please help!!

    Reply
  10. So happy. Got my receipt number WAC151*** . AD/RP/CA. Good luck to everyone!!!
    Best company in the world gave my receipt today.

    Reply
  11. If we are selected and checks cashed will we hear through email or regular mail? Is email ONLY for PP? AD will then be sent by Reg mail?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Yes, Email receipts are ONLY for Premium Processing applicants..lawyers will get a hard copy receipt in mail if regular processing petition is picked..that’s why the time variation in getting regular case receipts is huge, can continue till end of May/mid June

      Reply
      • lol gotta love USPS. Well my wife’s COS check got cashed so im hoping that means they picked me… that was yesterday AD/RP/VSC. Assuming i wont hear anything until next week. Best of luck guys

        Reply
  12. Got this note from my DSO

    “I can now see a Pending Change of Status request in your SEVIS record. However, the actual end date of your OPT has not been updated to 9/30/2015 yet, instead it is completely blank. I’m not sure what this means, but remind me to check again next week and I may have some more info at that time.”

    Any insight?

    AD/RP/WAC

    Reply
  13. Just got receipt number from my lawyer, so relieved.
    AD/RP/California 1st attempt..receipt dated April 18
    Receipt no WAC-15-138-50***

    Good luck to all the genuine applicants!! Keep faith!!

    Reply
  14. Called my attorney about my NAD/RP/VSC case. She told me they started getting a lot of AD/RP receipts. They have received few NAD/RP receipt as of this afternoon. I hope we are still in the game.

    Reply
      • Did Fragomen People happened to show you the petition document. I am worried whether they are bluffing with us or what. I don’t know.. I am just curious.

        Reply
        • I have been having the same feeling as you.They did not show me any documents. They just emailed me saying that they had filed my petition and that’s it. I had talked with them only a few times before my petition was filed and I have not heard anything since then.
          All we can do is just to be patient and try to keep our composure anyway..
          —NON-AD/RP/CA/Fragomen—

          Reply
  15. Been following this forum last year and this year. Today my application got picked. 2nd attempt. One application. Thanks everyone for all the info. And best of luck to all!!
    People who don’t get through, not to worry. Its not that bad. Just have back up plans and you should be good to give it another shot next year!

    Peace!!!!

    Reply
  16. For all PP applicants, if you got selected, you should receive an email. If you got rejected, you should also receive an email, too. I haven’t heard anyone saying they’ve been rejected. But you shouldn’t keep your hope too high now.

    Reply
    • Your employer / attorney doesn’t get an email if your application was rejected and not picked up in the lottery. USCIS sends the application packet back at the end. It might take up to mid June.

      Reply
    • You will only get an email containing receipt number if your petition got selected else they will return the package to your attorney. Till your attorney gets your packet back you can expect good news

      Reply
  17. Team,

    i came to know that my employer has filed under premium process but still i have’t got any update ..my question is do we need to get application status by 27th April before because 28th onwards PP process will be starting it seems.

    Regards,
    Phani

    Reply
  18. Hi All…
    Congratulations to all who got picked 🙂
    Any Updates on Non AD/Reg/CS .. did the Non AD/Reg start at Cal CS, I see few post for AD/Reg.
    Did any one receive any update on cheque or receipts for Non AD/Reg

    Reply
    • Things seem to moving slowly at CSC. There have been very few AD/Reg posts. Immigration girl confirms the same. So there’s still ots of time left. I am an AD/Reg/CSC myself

      Reply
  19. Hi,
    Many will definitely oppose what I say.But it is the Indian MNC’s which are ruining Careers of so many people in this forum.
    I work for a Indian MNC and this year they have picked so many people for H1b’s (3-8 years exp) without consideration of their knowledge.Only criteria is how they appease their managers. My company which usually sponsors less people have sponsored for more than 15k applications.

    PS:I am not 1 of them.I got a genuine offer and they have filed for me.Keeping fingers crossed.

    Reply
    • Well, MNCs do this in peer pressure and also to keep attrition rates under check. Full time associates from these MNCs assigned to projects are much better than the unskilled workers that the body-shop consultancies. Its the consultants from ABC and XYZ Consultancies that are ruining the opportunities of deserving candidates.

      Reply
  20. Finally my attorney called to let me know that check got cashed. AD/regular/CA center. One application full time job. Last yr did not get picked. Best of luck for all the genuine cases.

    Reply
  21. AD/PP/VT: I received receipt confirmation on 23rd evening US time. Considering I was more or less planning for contingency just before, it was a welcome news. Just hang in there. Receipts can and will still come this week for PP.

    Reply
    • Hi Did you received email or Mail.I am NonAd/PP/VT. check is cashed on monday have not received any receipt number.Thanks

      and congratulations …:)

      Reply
    • @VG: WOW! Congrats Bro!!! It gives some hope to us, When you check the status of your petition, what was the date they received your application. Plz post your Receipt number.

      Thanks in advance.

      Reply
        • Dude.. I guess yours was RP.. All PP reciepts have date of 16-17 or thereafter only regular processing have that they received your petition on 13th.

          Any ways – good luck but don’t panic if you do not receive approval in 15 days as it doesn’t seem pp

          Reply
    • That is great news. Congrats. I am in the same boat (AD/PP/VT) and still waiting.
      When is the snail mail dated? Also, did your law firm say why they did not receive an email?

      Reply
      • @ADS: Hope you get it too bro. They said they received 23rd Morning. I’m not sure when or if they received and email. They sent me a scanned copy of the receipt.

        Reply
  22. Even I am waiting for a confirmation from my employer. Fingers crossed. Following these comments and good to hear a few people have been picked. I am waiting for my turn.

    Reply
    • Congrats to all of you who got selected.. I think end of H1B for me. Second time single genuine application and probably the last. Goodbye US.

      Reply
  23. Some people spend 100,000 dollars to get MBA and then don’t get h1b. Some people can’t even speak proper english gets h1b and comes to the US. So unfair

    Reply
      • Please ignore these type of comments. this is frustration speaking not actual thinking people.
        Also no one asked anyone to spend that much money and study there, it was your personal choice.E verybody wants to live their dreams and everyone have the right to try for it.For study in US you have to clear IELTS or TOEFL . no one clears them without coaching. so if someone gets the visa in USA in 2 months he can improve English. it all depend on environment and circle.
        I am in china in 6 months i learned speaking Chinese . so English is not that difficult.
        this visa is not about talent from last few years its all bout luck. so you cant blame anyone. wish you best.

        Reply
    • Check out Shakespeare here. If eloquence, English and grammar were criteria, you would not be getting a H-1B either.

      Reply
    • “Some people can’t even speak proper ENGLISH GET H1B AND COME TO THE US. ”
      there is an error in your GRAMMER bro..!! u still need to improve your english skills 🙂

      Reply
  24. Guys I want to apologize to everyone for being rude and a jerk! I have been lying all this time. Sincerely sorry…. i am still waiting for h1…wish you all good luck..

    Reply
  25. friends, let us accept it, it is we who have given the permission to US laws to overpower and control our lives.

    take the control back, your life belongs to you, not to US laws.
    think about it.

    Reply

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