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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. Anyone who has spent a fortune on his/her MBA from a top school, and who has not yet received any information on whether his/her petition was selected? Curious to know if I’m the one alone or if there is anyone in the same boat…

    Reply
  2. For those who still have hopes, better start implementing plan ‘B’

    By Allissa Wickham

    Law360, New York (April 17, 2015, 3:54 PM ET) — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expects to have data entry for H-1B cap cases designated for premium processing completed by the end of Friday, although the adjudication of such cases won’t start until April 27, according to an agency representative.

    The USCIS spokesperson assured Law360 that premium processing on cap-subject H-1B visa petitions for skilled foreign workers had not yet occurred, amid reports from attorneys that they already received receipt notices, which they speculated could mean the agency was speeding up its premium processing, after all…

    Reply
  3. Hi.Non Ad/ pp/ california….do we still have hope…as i saw some posts saying RP is now getting receipt..is it true…any one please?

    Reply
  4. My company applied me H1B after validating my 2 years progress and patience. Obviously in Regular quota.1. What is the chance of me getting visa. 2. Is there any other ways I can get the status rather waiting for employer updates. 3. Is the Lottery randomly pick OR select by demand on tech and year of experience of the candidate. I hope that is random but here less and more waiting candidates are getting same chance rt 🙁

    Reply
  5. Hi All,

    My application was filed as Non AD/PP from Fragomen. I am not sure through which service centre. Anyone with same details who got receipt information

    Reply
  6. Did anyone apply theough Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP? They are completely unresponsive. Dont know whats going on. Any info would help. Thanks in Advance. NonAD/PP petition.

    Reply
  7. I got update from employer that my petition is selected. They have not shared Receipt number yet. They filed in RPn VA center. I was not selected last year. wishing everyone a very good luck!!! Believe in your lord n something should come in your way real soon!

    Reply
  8. I applied H1 B visa for the third time this year under AD/PP to CSC. I didnt get any Reciept Number as of now. Is there anything left for AD/PP guys from CSC or is it game over?

    Reply
    • Hey did you apply as AD for all these three years? How did you manage to stay here this long? I would really appreciate if you could give me some insight into this. Btw I am Non-AD/PP CA and waiting with loads of hope!

      Reply
  9. Hello
    I filed AD/PP in California Center. Didnt hear anything until now. IS there any chance letft for SD/PP CSC center??

    Reply
  10. Data Entry For H-1B Premium Processing Cases Done Soon

    By Allissa Wickham

    Law360, New York (April 17, 2015, 3:54 PM ET) — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expects to have data entry for H-1B cap cases designated for premium processing completed by the end of Friday, although the adjudication of such cases won’t start until April 27, according to an agency representative.

    The USCIS spokesperson assured Law360 that premium processing on cap-subject H-1B visa petitions for skilled foreign workers had not yet occurred, amid reports from attorneys that they already received receipt notices, which they speculated could mean the agency was speeding up its premium processing, after all….

    Reply
  11. Felt compelled to post this even though I tried hard to forget about everything until April 27 to the point of not even opening email – is it really over, have they finished with PP and moved on to non-PP?

    I am Calif./PP/non-AD, by the way. Single petition, first (and probably the last) time. 😐

    Reply
    • Hello, How do we know its over.. What I understood from Fragomen that Non AD/PP are now started to come, and here I see it over.. May be I am missing some comments below.. Any one who knows can please clarify.. Also my Joining location is San Jose , so does that means my application is with California center. Thanks in adv for answer.

      Rgds,

      Reply
  12. 600+ rec nos generated in VT today, no more PP can be seen in them. As everybody shouted it came true that premium rec generating ended friday. Now its turn of regular guys.

    IF someone knows from his employer that their cheque got cleared, please post here. Only VT Regular processing guys pls.

    Thanks

    Reply
  13. Hi guys,

    how are you following the receipts number being issued? How do you know if they’re working today or not?

    thanks

    Reply
  14. Is it over for PP VT my colleagues from fragomen got hard copy of receipt . I heard the email system is down . I feel as if I am rejected 🙁 this time from VSC

    Reply
  15. Is uscis processing applications today? When can we expect AD/non – pp/VT to stay coming in. This is my 3rd time and my family is eagerly waiting

    Reply
    • Vermont PP receipts still havent been mailed to anybody yet for both AD and non AD as far as i saw in the comments.

      So RP obviously needs to wait for PP to arrive first

      Reply
  16. Yippee!! I have got my receipt yesterday . non- AD , PP California service center. please don’t loose hope there are still receipts coming in..keep the hope high!!!

    Reply
  17. Hi ppl,

    Till now we are receiving CSC only.. not a single vermont but some vermont are being encashed so please don’t loose your hope…there is lot of time don’t jump to negative conclusion.Hope all of you here gets selected in lottery. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Can the PP applicants still hope to expect that something would happen? Mine may have been forwarded to Vermont as my employer is from New Hampshire

    Reply
  19. My DSO refused to give me my SEVIS status even thought according to dhs website they are required to share that information with us.

    Can someone please tell me me alternatives to find the sevis status, I see someone mentioned they called sevis hotline or some number?

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Reply
  20. AD/PP/CSC receipts seen late in the day today.. is there a hope for the same combination on Monday? If not, how good is day 1 CPT option for h1b approval next year? Any travel issues can occur on it?

    Reply
  21. Hello,
    Does USCIS Update all the 85,000 SEVIS after the lottery is done? I called my school DSO today and they told me that they don’t see any status change. I applied in AD and Regular Processing.

    Reply
      • Updated means you’re selected, not updated could mean anything because according to some forums for last year updates happened a few days after selection confirmation.

        Reply
    • I applied in the AD/RP. Today I got an email from DSO saying that there is no update in SEVIS record. We can expect the result by end of April…..

      Reply
  22. Help my friends. I applied with four consultancies (!AD/CSC/PP), and three got picked in the lottery. How do I refuse the two I don’t want to work for?

    Reply
  23. Hello, all

    I just called the ICE SEVIS center (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). I asked the agent whether I have a “change of status-pending” in my records. The agent said I have a “change of status-pending” in their system. I also asked her whether a lot of people who call her today have the same “change of status-pending”. The agent said not a lot of them have it. A lot of people don’t have it.

    But she didn’t any receipt number in my records.

    Does anyone know what’s that means? Please let me know. I am an AD/PP/VT

    Reply
    • Yes, I have the same exact situation. Could anyone please confirm that it means I got selected in the lottery? Appreciate it.

      Reply
    • If there is COS on your SEVIS record. You are through!
      Just relax and wait for your receipt and approval notice! Good luck!

      Reply
          • But, if it will only works for people whose OPT will expire soon, I think my SEVIS will stay the same and won’t change anything, why my SEVIS shows “change of status-pending”?

            I did some research, some folks said the system ICE had is not as advanced as the system our school use. That’s why we can see the receipt number from school, but can’t see the receipt number by calling ICE. However, I am not sure.

    • Can you please tell me which number you called? And what did you ask them? I want to know too and my DSO refused to give me my status. Please help.

      Reply
  24. I’m surprised how people are smart enough to read the forum for some workaround ways to figure out their lottery result (e.g. PP checks cashed and SEVIS updates). But at the same time they are not smart enough to learn how to interpret the outcome. Every hour someone asks: “My check got cashed, what does it mean?”

    Reply
  25. My company’s headquarters is located in New York, but my work location is in California. My company works with an attorney firm based out of NY. Can anyone help me in identifying which center might my application is processed at?

    Reply
  26. What decided to which place our application is filed? Does it depends on the location of the company or other factors are involved too? Mine is a SF based company, where I can I expect the application to be filed, California or Vermont?

    Reply
    • If you are on F1 visa and your H-1B petition is picked up in the lottery.
      The first thing USCIS does is to get your SEVIS record up to date and says “Pending” until your petition is approved! HTH.

      Reply
        • Hi EC,
          Thanks for the response man. I am on F1. Where do we check this number?
          I checked on this site : https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/desktop/checkstatus/loadSearchPage.do it still shows my first i20 details(like 3 years back)
          Any help is greatly appreciated.

          Reply
  27. Mailed the lawyer today. No Reply. Waiting for an answer from Vermont. Next week will decide my fate. Its my last chance OPT expires in June. Time to pack bags i guess.

    Reply
  28. Hi,

    I have applied for H1B this April. What is meant by Cap-Gap OPT? I’m still in my first year of OPT (which expires on June 12) and applied for an extension. I have emailed my DSO and he replied back saying that my SEVIS status is active with Cap-Gap OPT. What does that mean?

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • OPT Cap Gap extends your status while H1B case is being processed, it also allows you to stay in the country until October 1 when H1B kicks in – therefore it fills the gap between OPT expiration and Oct 1.

      I think Cap Gap is initiated automatically when you file an H1B petition, it does not mean that your were picked in the lottery, but I’m not 100% sure about it.

      Reply
    • Some people say, that the receipt number shows up in their SEVIS status. That definitely means that they were selected. Otherwise, it does not mean anything.

      Reply
  29. My application has been filed under AD/PP to the california service department. I haven’t heard anything from my firm. Should I consider it as a reject.

    Reply
  30. Update from Murthy forum

    Attorney_6’s PhotoAttorney_6
    17 Apr 2015

    We received our first hard copy (premium) receipt from VSC today. It appears there has been an issue with the VSC premium email system over the past week.

    Reply

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