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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. Do not lose hope guys..!!! receipts are still being generated EAC1514854104 from vermont. as of now almost 4104 have been generated.. they contain other applications too but most of them are H1 B so hope for the good..!!

    i dint check calif though it should be starting from wac1514850001 and so on

    Reply
  2. I got selected in lottery, my employer called me and told that the check was encashed and waiting for receipts.
    Non-AD/Reg/VSC – First time and single genuine application

    Reply
  3. Hi All,

    I got mail from my employer now. Got myself picked up in lottery.Finally got it after 2 years of waiting.

    Reply
  4. As per comments i understand some people got receipts under Regular Processing also. Please correct me if my understanding is wrong. Until which date we can wait for result. Even i am waiting for the updates.

    Reply
  5. Mine got picked and I am waiting for my employer email for details. But they confirmed that it got picked. I can’t believe millions are in queue and I got picked on my first attempt. Mine is regular

    Reply
    • Millions? You know how million is quantified ? Its 10 lakhs if you know what a lakh is.
      This year the no of applications are ~ 234000, which is ~ 24% of a million, so there isn’t even a single million there.
      Just note down all the above stuff, so that it will be useful once you come here .

      Reply
    • same here.. I am also waiting ….. I think USCIS just started send the receipt number… keep hopes till mid of MAY …. All the best

      Reply
  6. Guys, my first and ONLY petition was picked in the lottery. The legal counsel just sent me a notification yesterday.

    Thanks for your help again. I hope everyone waiting for their decisions get them soon. Good luck to you all.

    Reply
  7. I got two receipts and my cases status are request for evidence. Kinda nervous. What did I do wrong? #_#. Anyone has experience with this? Thanks.

    Reply
      • Feel for you and all AD candidates man. System is eff-in unfair (In my personal opinion). I wish that the AD candidates (especially STEM) who have put in the effort for a GMAT / GRE, spent all that money and effort in getting a degree didn’t have to compete with the regular non-ADs in a lottery. One of my close friends is packing his bags too, after an MBA at a top school. Hope you have made your peace.

        Reply
      • Not entirely correct. I received mine yesterday morning (meaning it was sent by mail late last week). My colleagues received on Friday, meaning was sent by snail mail earlier in the week. They will continue sending for a few more days. It could go well into May.

        Reply
      • Ok, Its very hard to wait …. Now i understand why ppl pay huge money and opt PP .. fingers crossed ..

        Reply
  8. what the hell is going on here. People waiting for h1b lottery.
    whats h1b?
    what is lottery?
    w*f is happening in this website?

    Reply
    • Kavya, please go back to india. Enjoy your life! why the ** u came here? Appreciate if you can take your *** off from here ..huh crazy ppl

      Reply
    • Not sure why you are on here if you are not aware of these things. And anyhow, your attitude seems so rude. No one on here is destroying human civilization or anything. So what do you mean “what the hell is going on here “? wtf is going on with that attitude of yours ?

      Reply
  9. AD/PP/VSC..1st attempt..1 genuine application
    Check En-cashed: 17th April
    Received official Receipt email: 20th April
    Case Approved: 28th April
    Good luck to everyone waiting for receipts, hope you all get it!!!

    Reply
  10. Major reason for this freaking for you folks is due to multiple filings by people dying to stay here that’s all.

    Who ya’ll did and have like multiple approvals they are watching you.

    Well i got mine AD/RP. single employer. My good genuine folks are worried because of ya’ll punks.

    Reply
    • RP cases will go on for a few more days (or weeks). Retain hope until you get either a receipt notice or until you get your returned application.

      Reply
      • Thanks for the response. If you do not mind, may I ask if you received yours? My questions comes from understanding that you too are a similar candidate like me.

        Reply
        • Yes I did, yesterday. My comment about that is buried somewhere in this chain. I am only staying on here and commenting because I know how stressful the wait was.

          Reply
          • Congratulations to you. Well, thank you for making the rest of us feel better and retain some hope by responding to our queries.

    • I’m AD/RP/Vermont..my cheque got cashed last week. still waiting for receipt…do u know how long the wait is…?

      Reply
  11. Though I had left hope by last friday, received an email from attorney saying that they haven’t yet received any email or receipt from California for any of their petitions PP or RP. And that there is still hope.

    Is there even a bit of truth in this?

    Reply
      • But as per earlier comments, if we don’t receive by 27th its almost nil chance. Is it true that people haven’t got receipts for PP from CSC?

        Reply
          • Thanks for the quick replies. Though I wish lawyer’s words are true, I don’t want to keep my hopes high.

          • Hi, my cheque got cashed last week and i didnt receive any receipt number yet…any particular time frame..?

    • PP? Probably not, especially since they should have got an email notification. RP, yes there is. They will continue to send RP receipt notices for a few days. There is no SLA for RP. Hope that helps.

      Reply
  12. Not seeing much movement in the Cali Service center. All my friends who got receipts today are from Vermont service center!!

    Reply
  13. Technically PP clock starts yesterday(27th april 2015). How come there is no hope for people who have not received their receipt yet?. There is still hope till may 11 for all PP candidates.
    Keep faith and don’t worry!.

    I am not in competition with anyone. I hope we all made it.

    Reply
      • Receipts for PP are already sent through E-Mail which indicates that the petition is picked in the lottery. Now its approval time starting from 27th April. Few people have approvals already. In the next 2 weeks, USCIS will adjudicate the cases. This could be a distaste to know but its a fact.

        Reply
        • I have applied under PP and was intimated on 20th April i got picked but no receipt number yet from USCIS. Any info? thanks

          Reply
    • Don’t loose hope. Today morning my cheque got en cashed. No update from attorney or school. I am waiting for receipt number from attorney. AD/RP/Vermont

      Reply
      • Thank you. However, looks like luck was not on my side this time 🙁 I am not going to study more. It is too expensive, both monetarily as well as time wise. Life is almost over…

        Reply
        • Cmon.. Cheer up.. Usa is not ur life.. It is just part.. I am sure you are very valuable person .. When one door closes another opens.. Been through more bad phase than this.. So trust me.. Nothing wrong will hapoen ever if you have put 100% effort in anything and you have faith in urself..

          Reply
    • I dont really know. I emailed my DSO asking for any updates in SEVIS status and she replied back saying there isn’t any

      Reply
        • Immigration girl says that they are expecting more AD/RP/CSC receipts in the next few days. The number of receipts coming out of CSC seems less than ideal

          Reply
          • If any of you get any info, please post here. So others from the same service center know if they have any hope or not…

    • I dont really know. I emailed my DSO asking for any updates in SEVIS status and she replied back saying there isn’t any

      Reply
    • I just check yesterday, there will be very clear receipt number for your H1B on the buttom, DSO can not see it if it does appear there. Bless you and bless all of us

      Reply
  14. With mercy of God, just received the receipt number from my employer. I am AD/RP/VT, single application. Best of luck to all genuine applicants with single applications.

    Reply
  15. Hi gurus,,

    My employer told me that my H1 application check got chased. Today I checked with DSO for my SEVIS status. He said there is no update in the SEVIS. Anybody know how long it take to reflect in SEVIS after your check is cashed ??

    Reply
    • They only cash checks of accepted applications. Be patient, especially if you are RP. They have tens of thousands of applications to process.

      Reply
      • Hey…i heard from my employer on thursday that my cheque was cleared..but i have not received my receipt yet,I’m AD/RP/vermont…any idea guys…i’m annoying my employer…but he wants me to wait..my DSO sucks..he doesn’t pick up..how long should i wait…

        Reply
        • My DSO informed me last Tuesday regarding my receipt and after a week my Employer received the snail mail from USCIS. So be patient, your employer will receive the receipt.

          Reply
          • Same here i was informed on April 20th but no receipt till date.. i am waiting for it and bit nervous as well.

  16. Apart from t ones who received receipts on 27th for Non-AD , Did anyone receive anything today ??? Or ur friends ???
    Please share me t link of t site where u can check t last person receipt received in uscis …. TIA

    Reply
  17. Employer got receipt in the mail yday. I don’t think it was premium as my cases status on the USCIS website doesn’t say that. I have a MS degree so it was under the Masters’ quote. Reveived date 13th April, Notice date 21st April. Got in the mail 27th April.

    WAC-15-140-XXXXX

    Reply
  18. I think I’ve read that the last 5 digits of the receipt correspond with the allocation number. Is this correct? So, on the basis I have seen numbers 55000 there are approximately 30,000 left.

    So its taken 2 weeks to do 55,000 notifications. I suspect it will take over 2 weeks to do that last 30,000 as a fair amount of man hours will be diverted to completing meeting the premium processing requirements of those already selected. Does this sound like fair observation?

    Reply
      • False information. I just checked by changing E with W in my receipt number and there is a separate receipt. which means that the last 5 digits repeat.

        Genuine RP Candidates, please patiently wait. It’s hard, I know (And easy for me to say after getting my receipt), but there is no other go.

        Reply
  19. This is my first attempt, I am still waiting. My attorney stated that there is still time. Up to when can we expect receipts for AD/RP/VT? Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Is it game over for AD/RP/CSC? My employer said that they haven’t received any receipts for the last 4 working days! They are losing hope. I am almost too!

    Reply
  21. Hi, I have applied for H1, AD/Regular processing/Vermont. I am waiting for the receipt in the meanwhile I checked with the school today and they said my SEVIS STATUS: ACTIVE and i checked with my employer and they mentioned that the check is not cashed. Does this indicate my H1 is not picked. Appreciate any response.

    THanks

    Reply
          • Sai
            Yes SEVIS does indicate the receipt # if its picked. I just got email from my School telling that my SEVIS status is pending and they gave me the receipt #. But I havent heard anything from my employer

          • Even though OPT extension expires after OCT 1 ie Jan 2016. I read in some blog saying that Sevis status will be updated only if OPT or OPT Extention expires before OCT 1.

          • Doesn’t really matter when your OPT gonna expire. Mine expiry date is July 2016 but my DSO provided me the receipt number mentioned alongside the Change of Status notification in SEVIS

  22. Hi,
    I did in regular process and my employer told , they received the receipt notice and they will send receipt # ASAP.. How long will it take to get the receipt # . Please let me know.

    Reply
    • Wait, You said your employer received the receipt? Then this is a question you should ask your employer. It is simply a matter of your employer sending it to you. I don’t see how this community can help.

      Reply

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