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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. So reading all comments for Vermont centre, it feels only receipts for AD have been released.
    Can somebody pls confirm if the non-AD/PP/vermont receipts have been started coming out yet or we need to wait few days more….
    Thanks!

    Reply
  2. I want to thank everyone here, including those guys filed multiple applications. Because of people do wrong things, we know how important and valuable it is to do right things.

    I just got notice from USCIS email forwarded by my attorney. EAC151355XXXX.

    AD/PP/Vermont.

    Everyone should be patient, my status is still ACTIVE and nothing like PENDING or CHANGE. It looks exactly like a not picked case. However, I just got email. I don’t have fake resume and I went to ivy school in NY, now I am working for a fancy tech firm, I believe the next steps will be easy and smooth. Good luck to everyone here, truly.

    Thank you, Lord.

    In the strong and loving name of Jesus. Amen.

    Reply
    • Congrats! I’m also AD/PP/Vermont. I also went to Ivy and work in NYC but I still haven’t heard a thing from Fragomen, the law firm.

      Reply
    • Thank you for your update. Hope your future will shine like a star.
      I’m AD/PP/VT, status is active. Chance is getting smaller now…

      Reply
  3. Guys,

    I just wanna tell that even if you see your SEVIS active..that does not mean you are not selected. I called my school and SEVIS center both said my SEVIS is active but did not give any further information. And few hours later I got email from lawyer abt my case getting picked up in lottery(AD/PP/Vermont). I checked online and it says my petition was received on 20th April, which means USCIS just entered online and sent email to my lawyer.

    Reply
  4. Anyone from deloitte nyc ???

    My nerves are already broken due to this painful endless waiting time. I don’t know if i am only one from my firm who didn’t received the news from seyfarth shaw

    Reply
  5. AD/PP/VT

    My Employer received Receipt Number Email and Mail today, Checks were also en cashed today.. DSO also confirmed “Change of Status-Pending”.. So Happy… 🙂

    Don’t loose hope guys.. Good luck to everyone..

    Reply
  6. Just got an email from my lawyer who finally gave me my receipt number. I had filed under AD/PP/VSC (first attempt) and my check was cashed on thursday. couldn’t be more happy. Good luck to everyone else who are waiting. Dont loose hope.

    Reply
  7. Mine is AD/PP/Vermont. i haven’t received any messages from attorney, no changes of Sevis, no checks were deposited.

    If I haven’t received any message by 04/27, does that mean I was not picked by lottery?

    Reply
  8. Has anyone non-AD/PP been able to check if SEVIS record has been updated? It seems like a lot of you who checked SEVIS are AD.

    I’m non-AD and my SEVIS record is the same… Is there any hope?

    Reply
  9. Calm. Your. Horses. Guys!!

    If you’re going to get picked, you will be picked among 1 crore applicants… if not, then not even in 10 applicants!

    This is my 2nd successive attempt and the number of fks I give equals the number of football world cups MSdhoni has.

    Reply
  10. AD/CA/PP – Just called up SEVIS centre. They told me that my:

    1) Status is active
    2) Cap Gap extended till September 30 (My OPT expires on July 07)

    What does it mean?

    Reply
    • Congrats! You got selected for the lottery. Mine was the same status this morning and I got email in the afternoon. Just hang in there, your confirmation email must be on its ways.. 🙂

      Reply
      • Thanks SG & Rubyracer. I still haven’t heard from my employer/lawyer coz it’s almost end of business hours here. SG, did you hear from the California center?

        Reply
  11. AD/CA/PP – Just called up SEVIS centre. They told me that my:

    1) Status is active
    2) Cap Gap extended till September 30 (My OPT expires on July 07)

    What does it mean?

    Reply
  12. AD/PP/Vermont

    Got a call from Fragomen today about my receipt notice.. The last few weeks been have been the most harrowing.. so much so that I had already started planning the move back to India. Keep faith!

    Reply
  13. Contacted SEVIS .. replied that my status is Active and for any pending change in status, I am to contact USCIS..

    Does this ring a bell anyone.
    (OPT expires on March 20th 2016)

    Reply
  14. So happy!!! Just got the email from my attorney with the official receipt notice forwarded. I have been following this forum since lottery was complete and received a lot of help in here.
    Good luck, everyone and wish you guys all the best!

    Reply
  15. And at last we don’t have a choice other than to pray for ourselves and wish good luck for others as well-Everyone here is for a purpose for a need-Be it career,money,quality living.Lets keep honesty at our end and God will be with us.

    Reply
  16. -Consultancy assisting candidates with Fake Degrees and Employment documents is a serious issue and needs to be handled but than again its the authority who needs to check these documents thoroughly.
    -There are sponsors who 1st do detailed Educational and Professional background checks prior to sponsoring and filling H1B for the aspirant-Like the one I am dealing with.
    -Otherwise I wont blame these consultancies since they are no different than TCS,Infosys and Wipro.They also hire candidates and make them to work for their client,same way these consultancies do business.
    -To summarize,major issues/threats to genuine candidates are those consultancies which process fake/non-skilled candidates and File multiple petitions to get those candidates selected.Kindly do not categorize all consultancies and firms as cheats.

    Reply
    • Exactly my thoughts. Unless people are using fake experience and certificates, what consultancies do is not any different from Infosys, TCS, CTS and Wipro. If people want to go after consultancies, lets first go after the big indian companies who take up most of the visas. The smaller desi consultancies petition numbers are insignificant compared to the giants.

      Reply
    • Here the most suffered applicants are Students who study in USA and apply H1B with Genuine experience. I know most of the applicants have fake experience (at-least 75%). So, it’s a known fact kindly acknowledge. First correct this Fake S***hit and then talk about big Consultancies like Infi/TCS etc.

      Reply
  17. I applied as AD/RP/Calif. Seems like most of the comments are from AD/PP. On looking at the thread, I feel like the CAP of AD- 20000 has been reached by AD/PP people only 🙁 . If I am wrong, Mark me wrong and tell me the reasoning behind that.

    Reply
    • No need to panic just yet! By looking at this thread, how on earth did u come to the conclusion that the Master’s cap would be reached by PP candidates alone? There are only a 1000 or so comments! 20000>>>1000!!
      It looks as if only AD/PP candidates have got through because they are the only ones being sent the receipts. Patience, my friend…

      Reply
  18. Hi Guys,

    Did any Non -AD Premium petition, Vermont centre recieved approval till now?

    I am waiting this is my 3rd year 🙁

    Reply
  19. SEVIS HOTLINE REFUSED TO TELL ME IF MY STATUS IS PENDING A CHANGE.

    DSO RESUFED TO GIVE ME ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS WELL

    WHAT THE HECK.

    Reply
  20. Hello,

    Anybody heard from Fragomen for NAD/PP? Can anybody help with the e-mail. How does it look like and who is the sender of the e-mail?

    Reply
  21. My wife’s application got picked up from Lottery, at least thats what the employer said to us, one concern though, the cheques for PP didnt get cased in yet. So, not completely sure yet.

    Reply
  22. Update for everyone:
    AD/PP/VSC. First and only H1 B application
    Called SEVIS this morning…was told status is Active. Followed up with DSO, she gave me EAC umber and confirmed that Cap Gap has been applied. Just now received email from Lawyer.
    Do NOT lose hope! VST is now sending emails 🙂 I hope all genuine cases are picked!!

    Reply
  23. Just got an email from my lawyer…..AD/PP/Vermont……The receipt was generated today….so don’t loose hope guys….there is time till end of the week for PP applicants…….this is my second year trying….was unlucky last year………Good Luck to all………This forum is very helpful……Thanks to everyone……Stay positive!!!

    Reply
  24. Received the receipt number from University. Thank you so much Guys for helping in providing valuable information. Much appreciated.

    Reply
  25. Ok guys! I’ve an update.
    I just got an email with the Receipt number. (PP/AD/Vermont.)

    Here is my analysis (which I was not sure about until now):

    I called the SEVIS response centre today and they told me that my SEVIS status is:
    1. Active
    2. EAD extended until Sept 30th, 2015
    3. Change of Status pending

    So, if you have this in your SEVIS that means that your case has been picked in the lottery.

    Now, if #3 ‘Change of Status’ is Approved then that means that H1-B has been granted.

    Hope this helps as I’ve seen a lot of questions around this since the morning (including the one’s from me).

    Lastly, please don’t make assumptions that your case is not selected until you get to know about it. Just believe in yourself and in God (if you wish to).
    I wish all the people Good Luck!

    Reply
    • Dude. I just called them. When I asked for CAP GAP status , they said they don’t verify anything except SEVIS status. They asked me to call USCIS. Did you get to know about your CAP GAP by calling (703) 603-3400 ?

      Reply
  26. I spoke to my DSO to check the SEVIS status and he said it says “PENDING”. I am graduating this June and have applied for OPT as well.
    Does the SEVIS status says PENDING because of the OPT that I have applied or should I assume my case was picked in the lottery. I am Non-AD/PP/CA.

    I have also seen people saying that there is a reciept number on SEVIS in case your case is picked up in the lottery. Is that ture for every case?

    Please if someone could guide me on this it would be great! Thanks!

    Reply
  27. Hello All,
    I applied for AD/PP/CA. I haven’t heard from my attorney nor from my school until today. It’s very disappointing.
    And I see this forum is not talking much about CA service center. So, can I assume CA SC has finished sending all PP receipts to the people who got picked in the lottery?
    Thanks and your reply would be much appreciated!

    Reply
      • Mac Dre & Waiting

        Not until 27th if premium processes , I guess last working of this week i.e; 24th
        Because on 27th, USCIS will start processing the petitions which got selected in the lottery.
        so, technically one should receive the receipt # by this Friday.

        Reply
  28. Just heard from my employer that my checks were cashed on 04/17/2015. PP/AD/Vermont. Was not selected last year. Second time lucky! Be positive, think positive! It works!

    Reply
  29. I heard some people are getting mail(not email) from Vermont center. Are these mail being sent to employer or lawyer or applicant?

    Reply
      • I looked at several records entered in Vermont for today and all the cases are for regular processing. Very few like less than 20 are for premium processing, but they say that the application was received on April 18th. So I guess they are not cap-subjected H1 applications. My say would be to wait till Wednesday. Also 90% of PP should have got receipt numbers.

        Reply
        • Yes. Receipt creation process is complete as confirmed by USCIS. But emailing or snail mailing them will continue for a few days

          Reply
    • Some one received receipt from CA, when I checked the other blog. Please see below:

      Hi Laura,

      This is Vikas Vasam, Student of VIU. Currently I’m in OPT STEM extension working in Birmingham, Alabama.

      “I have applied for H1-B for FY 2015. Could you please tell me about my SEVIS update.”

      Good Luck Bro!

      Reply

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