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USCIS received 124,000 H1B Visa 2014 Petitions – Official Lottery Update Results

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As predicted by us earlier on USCIS official news update date, USCIS did an official press release today disclosing the details of overall petitions received and lottery process followed, including results. Below is a brief summary of the H1B Visa 2014 news release.

USCIS Official News : Summary of H1B Visa 2014 Lottery Results press release

  • Big News: For the first time in USCIS history since 2008, H1B Visas 2014 cap reached within the first week of filings, i.e, first week of April.  You can check out US Economy and H1B Visa Lottery
  • Total H1B Petitions received :  USCIS received a total of 124,000 H1B Visa petitions for fiscal year 2014.
  • Lottery Information : USCIS conducted a random computer generated random selection process, also called as lottery, on April 7th to select the petitions needed to meet the regular cap of 65,000 and masters cap of 20,000
  • Lottery Process followed: As described in our detail H1B Visa Lottery process, USCIS followed the same thing.  First USCIS conducted lottery process for Masters quota petitions and then the petitions not selected in masters lottery were merged with regular quota pool and random selection process was conducted for remaining pool to select 65,000 petitions.
  • Petitions Not Selected in Lottery  : If your petition was not selected in lottery, USCIS will reject and return the petition along with the filing fee, except for duplicate petitions.
  • Premium Processing for H1B Visa 2014 : To facilitate the data entry process and meet the timelines, USCIS will begin premium processing for H1B Visa 2014 from April 15th.
  • Non-Cap Subject Petitions Accepted :  USCIS will continue to accept non-cap subject petitions i.e, that have already been counted towards to the cap, including petitions filed under below category
    • H1B Visa stay extensions
    • Employee terms changes for H1B visa worker
    • H1B petitions filed for Change of employers
    • H1B petitions filed for concurrent working for more than one employer

Did I miss anything ?

Do you have any questions ? What are your thoughts ?

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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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11,589 Comments

  1. AD/PP
    I haven’t heard anything yet although I have been checking with my employer every day. I have a bad feeling about it. Almost the entire thread is now discussing regular processing. If you are AD/PP and still waiting, have any of you talked to your employer or attorney? Do they believe there is still some hope this week or is it all over for us?

  2. I think don’t feel snything now, I lost interset in things:/ I lost hope and I m sure I have nt been selected, poor me 🙁 my dream is being destroyed now, 🙁
    Ad/Pp/CSC :((

    • Same boat. Checked with my employer,they said check has not been cashed.tensed,worried and frustrated.

        • Am working as manager of a pharmacy, basically I run one of the biggest pharmacies in my area, I still have my opt valid till december, then i think am gonna change my status to be dependent to my husband, and i’ll try to apply again next year, my prob is that I adore my job, and every one in the area likes me , I cant imagine my self leaving the pharmacy 🙁

          • My OPT runs out in about two months. I too have settled in my job, although it is an entry level. It’s really stressful to be in this situation.

    • Dear You might want to hold on as I see more updates on Vermont Center and less on CSC…. Also there are no rejection notices yet ….. So have faith
      Even am waiting for CSC but Regular Processing

    • People are getting PP receipts by regular mail also today. Don’t worry…wish you would get through

    • IM IN THE SAME BOAT
      AD/RP/VSC. THE LAWYER SAID WAIT 2 WEEKS. SHE WENT AHEAD AND START PERM BUT DOES NOT EVEN KNOW IF I GET PICKED YET. WEIRD

      • A lot of people are checking with their attorney/employers and inquiring if the check was cashed…did you confirm this with your attorney?

        • Just talked to lawyer . He told me that USCIS didnt en cashed any application for regular processing . SO dont know what to do…

          • my bad…since you applied in regular processing you may have to wait like me…i was told by my employer to wait at least until 4/20

          • The check has not been cashed yet for me as we’ll. I am in PP and AD. Any idea guys on whether to wait or loose hope?

          • AD/RP/VSC.

            I am waiting too. Same boat. Hopefully all of us will get through. I have not seen many regular processing applications come through. So there is a huge lot is store I guess.

  5. Just read the GOLDEn words

    “On April 15, 2013, this I129 PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER was approved and we sent you an e-mail notice.”

    Hope everybody’s petition gets Approved (especially all the Advance Degree holders).

    Thanks for all the support!

    • congrat!!

      Couple of questions.

      1.How many years did your visa is issued?.I hope it is for 3 years?

      2.Are you on EVC/EC or Full time employee?

      3.If you are EVC/EC Have you submitted the client letter?

      4.If you are EVC/EC did your client mention the Date or did it just mention that you will exnteded?

        • Nahi bhai. Looks like I have to wake up from my American dream now. And to think I was all ready to buy my first house in the US – condo chosen, earnest amount paid, loan approval done. Everything’s gone now.

          • Just hang in there…nothing is over ….

            Looking at the historical rates for application denials due to incorrect filing fees, duplicate petitions, petition not signed, sent to wrong service center, etc etc it looks like a very good chance you will still get through!!!

  6. I got my receipt one hr back through mail. AD/CSC/PP
    It was issued on April 11th.

    Note: I didn’t get any notice through email so please be patient. I hope rest of them may get mail like me.

    Good Luck everyone

  7. My application was filed under PP and bachelor quota.. I still didn’t get any confirmation from USCIS. What are my chances to get H1 confirmation still..or m done..

    • I am in same boat… keep ur hope alive.. Chances r less now but still USCIS says wait until 30th. We havn’t seen much receipts from cali area..might be they are slow..rest on god..

  9. Dear All,

    Saw the GOLDEN WORDS

    “On April 15, 2013, this I129 PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER was approved and we sent you an e-mail notice.”

    Thanks for all the support!!!

    Hope all the Advance Degree holders get their H1 Approval fast and so also the General visa seekers!!!

    • congrat!!

      Couple of questions.

      1.How many years did your visa is issued?.I hope it is for 3 years?

      2.Are you on EVC/EC or Full time employee?

      3.If you are EVC/EC Have you submitted the client letter?

      4.If you are EVC/EC did your client mention the Date or did it just mention that you will exnteded?

      • Answers in the order asked:

        1) Don’t know yet…mail is with my attorney (but I am guessing 3 years. Have done MBA from a top-tier B School in Morth-East).

        2) I am FT employye with Big 4 (Yellow and Black logo)

        3) Not Applicable

        4) Not Applicable

          • Thanks!!!

            Been stressful 3 years (1 year prior to MBA and 2 years of B School along with job tension and then this)

            Guess I am going to concentrate a little on ‘person’ life!!!

    • Congrats!!

      Ca you tell us when the I129 was received by USCIS and if possible last four digits of EAC (if applied through VSC)?

      Thanks

  10. I have a question about CAP-GAP. I also am also waiting for my receipt. (AD/RP). I am currently in 17 OPT (STEM extension) and will expire June 15, 2013. If I get my receipt and VISA is granted, am I eligible for CAP-GAP ???. I heard the CAP-GAP is issued only in first 12 month OPT. I am just checking my options.

    Any one can answer with reliable source ??? Appreciate in advance.

    • If you get the receipt number you are eligible for the CAP-GAP.

      CAP-GAP as the name indicates is a provision provided by USCIS to fill the Gap between OPT expiry and H1 Start date.

    • Thats wrong. Cap-gap happens when you apply for H1 before OPT expires. In case of OPT Stem you can apply for H1 during grace period as well which will put you in cap-gap but not make you employment authorized until Oct 1.

      • Been you are right.I missed another scenario of CAP-GAP (Applying in Grace Period).However, Inorder to apply for CAP-GAP in grace period one has to have H1 petition and mailer tracking information.

        • Hi Ben/March1612

          KKK is not in Grace period when he applied for the H1B. He is in OPT extension. Grace period is 60 days after his OPT expires i.e from 16th Jun to 15th August

        • I doubt mailer tracking would do. I think you need a receipt number. I am in the grace period right now and have applied for H1. If you still think tracking number is enough, please let me know. The good thing here would be that 60 days cycle will restart in case petition is rejected which should give enough time to go back into F1 as well as avoid reinstatement.

          • Yes, tracking number and copy of petition should be OK . But your grace period should not have been started before 1st April(or your date of document reaching the USCIS)

            here is the content from USCIS website which confirms what i am saying (link given above)

            Q4. How does a student covered under the cap-gap extension obtain proof of continuing status?

            A4. The student should go to their Designated School Official (DSO) with evidence of a timely filed H-1B petition (indicating a request for change of status rather than for consular processing), such as a copy of the petition and a FedEx, UPS, or USPS Express/certified mail receipt. The student’s DSO will issue a preliminary cap-gap I-20 showing an extension until June 1, 2012.

            If the H-1B petition is selected for adjudication, the student should return to his or her DSO with a copy of the petitioning employer’s Form I-797, Notice of Action, with a valid receipt number, indicating that the petition was filed and accepted. The student’s DSO will issue a new cap-gap I-20 indicating the continued extension of F-1 status.

          • sorry link is not getting posted here. you can google for “cap-gap in opt extension” and select the first link which is from uscis

    • you should be eligible as told by March1612.

      You can read here also

      http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1d175ffaae4b7210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6abe6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

  12. Hey guys and gals,

    Just to let those RC/PP/VSC among you know: my attorney got my receipt today by snail mail. No one received any email. So, contrary to what we’ve been told, some PP will be notified by regular mail only, for some reason.

    Anyway, FYI, I mailed my petition by USPS on March 29; it was accepted on April 8; and the notice was sent to the attorney by regular mail on April 10.

    So, not that I’m encouraging anyone not to think about a plan B (I know I did), but just don’t commit to anything else quite yet… I would wait just a few more days.

    Maybe in the future, if the cap is not raised this year through reform, then, instead of throwing everybody in the same lottery, USCIS should really consider using a variety of factors to decide who gets selected.

  14. Anyone who filed H1B with BAL? Or anyone whose employer is also Google?
    I’m RegCap/PP/CSC, still no receipt yet 🙁

    • I am also under the same situation….no updates yet. I believe if it had to be an email receipt, we should have received it already. There are some people under PP/CSC (both AD and Regular) who received receipts through mail instead of emails. That is my only hope now. Otherwise my hopes seems to be dampening. This is crazy shit. Too depressing.

      • Come on man you are google guys.. If from India must be IITians.. I am neither .But I have deep respect towards you guys.. Dont worry.. You will get it.. And more over.. If you don’t get it.. You will make it big some where in Europe..Cheer up!!

        • Well, I’m not from India though. I’m so worried such
          a good job opportunity might slip away if I didnmake it in this lottery…

      • The attorney said it might take two to three weeks to get the receipt based on their previous experience but I think Email wouldn’t take that long. So the only hope now is that PP may not get a Email notification in this mess. God bless me and everyone who is still waiting!

      • Envy you… I don’t even know what the options I might have for the backup. I don’t have a degree in the US so no OPT. I am now working for another company outside US so I cannot apply for L1 due to the one year limit. Is there an opportunity for J1? I know it has the two-year limit of coming back to home country, which is annoying, but is it possible to use it except for such constrain? Thanks.

        • Friend, I know a case of my friend’s wife. She got into google, but she was not able to join, because h1b quota was exhausted. Google waited for more than one year until she applied for another H1b season. She was not able to work, but Google waited for her – for more than one year. They even offered her a position in other place (Canada) meanwhile, but she refused since she wanted to be with her husband in US (he was with another company). So don’t worry – Google is one of those companies that make everything to not lose their employee!

        • Hey QP!
          Can you please please let me know if you have received your status, i am waiting like standing on hell .. I am RQ/PP/CSC ! Filed through BAL , no response from the lawyer or HR.
          I am on the process of packing things now. please let me know if you have received your status ! You dont have to let me know the number , just let me know whether you have received your receipt or no!

          Thanks

          • Another day passed and still no good luck 🙁
            The only information I got so far is from my recruiter. She claimed that results will be released by next week and they may try to think of other options after that… And it will also be BAL who help us with other plans if there are any…

    • I am also under the same , employer is google and filed through BAL, General Quota/Premium Processing/CSC, still NIL response from the attorney or the HR… Lost complete faith and hope… Looking for the next options (PLAN B)… through some ideas pls ….

    • I’m regular processing, BAL/Google, no reply yet. Should hopefully be under the Advanced Degree cap unless the lawyers messed things up…

      • what do you mean hopefully? If you gave them your final transcript or degree certificate, you are under this cap.

    • I am also in the same category and everything matches as you mentioned, did you hear back anything today ? I am still waiting :-

    • Mine was sent to Vermont. if volumes there is lesser than CSC, I am hoping we’ll get quicker receipts

  19. Please let me know if anyone received updates for non advanced / non premium from Vermont processing center

  20. I just received email from lawyer, got my receipt just now in email AD/PP/CSC.
    Don’t lose hope, best of luck to all.

  22. Hi,
    Any one from Cognizant under Regular Cap / Regular Processing @ CSC?
    Your response will be highly appreciated….

    Thanks..

  24. My H1B is approved today by USCIS. AD-PP-VSC
    I cannot believe they approved it on day-1 (April 15 being the start of processing for premium)

    All the best to everyone who are still waiting for receipts and approvals. Keep faith and be positive.

  25. Anyone got approval decision from California centre for the premium processing??
    I see there are few updates from Vermont centre on the decision.

    I got the receipt no on 9th apr.. Mine is still in the acceptance stage. I see most of them are in Acceptance.

    Please update if anyone see the change in their stage..

  26. Hi,
    I am in regular cap /PP (premium processing) vermont centre. I got the reciept number on Friday. Today morning status got changed from Acceptance to intial review with wordings like Premium processing clock stopped and an email was sent (dont panic with this message). After 1 hour status changed to decision and showed approved in the below wordings. My employer sent me an email confirming my h1b is approved and my I-797 will be sent by mail :). My wait is over. thanks everyone and wish everyone gets a good news..

    • congrats Anu!!

      Couple of questions.

      1.How many years did your visa is issued?.I hope it is for 3 years?

      2.Are you on EVC/EC or Full time employee?

      3.If you are EVC/EC Have you submitted the client letter?

      4.If you are EVC/EC did your client mention the Date or did it just mention that you will exnteded?

  27. Regular/PP/VSC : no update, just now called the employer…they don’t have anything either…I think time has come to get along with different plan…I was waiting from last Tuesday…thought something will come today(PP has already started from today)…now I don’t want to wait anymore…
    bye friends, All the Best.

    • Isn’t it too early to say farewell? I am still waiting and I believe it’s still too early to tell. Hang on.

    • Be positive coz many people are getting PP receipts through mail .
      Have a backup plan and I know its very frustrating but something will turn out Deb.

      All the best .

  29. just came to know from lawyer that he had applied in regular and not in premium.. now my case is AD/RP/CSC

          • Hopefully MAN! I haven’t stressed out this much in my life… I’m here sitting at the office and doing absolutely nothing.. Can’t concentrate on anything.. I don’t wanna loose my job and go back after investing so much time, money, and energy..

          • @Emre
            just like you, i was doing nothing last week but from today i started concentrating on my work… may be you should try that.. there is nothing in our hand now but to wait.. me too can’t imagine myself without this job .. let’s see

  32. Hi all,

    I have just received email from my employer today that I got the receipt on Friday. Wish you all luck and good news asap.

  34. Guys, what is this speculation about a lot of applications coming from India? How many of you guys studied here in the US? Have a job here in the US and are sponsored by your employer? How many of you are sitting somewhere outside of U.S. just hoping to get a Visa?

    If there are a lot of you out there, I feel it is very unfair that I am in the same “lottery” pool 🙁

    • So I take it that you are not one of the 20.000 that are exempt from the cap and you think you deserve the Visa because of where you studied?

      • No, I do not have an advanced degree, but I think I should have preference over people who did not study here in the U.S. I have invested much money here. I think it is unfair, because I studied here for many years and I now work for a U.S. company. And if there are a lot of people without a job here, no sponsor, and are sitting somewhere else in the world, I think they should have a harder time getting the Visa. This is just my opinion.

        • I completely agree!!! Either they should give preference or give a interim status so that people graduated in US can apply next year. Most people finishing with college here will have a huge bank loan and sending them back right away is unfair.

          • Spike, you should have made it clear with visa officer while being interviewed for F1 that at the end of your study you would have huge loan and it would be unfair to send you back to India.. I am sure visa officer would have saved you from getting into huge loan 🙂

        • I totaly agree with you when it comes to people whitout a real job or sponsor.
          When it comes to the studies I just don’t get it.
          Since the H1B is for U.S. businesses so that they can employ foreign workers there is a big chance that these people are located somewhere else in the world.

          • Well, I am talking about preference. I see your point, but I still think a lottery is not a rational way of going with this.

        • Rik, too bad that you can’t see reason beyond whats best for you.. since its just your opinion I won’t argue much 🙂

          • Yes, I have to admit that I am a little bitter here. I have spent 7 years here in the U.S. studying, working, and there is a risk that I must go home because I fell out of a lottery system. Then, you start to think about this system , right? And you tend to think about what is fair. It seems to me that the cap is an arbitrary number. It can’t be based on the visa demand, because then they could have raised it. It can’t be based on the demand of foreign human cap because then it would have differed the past years. It is unfair for everybody who falls outside of the “lottery,” of course, because it is so irrational and random.

  36. Do you guys know anyone from iGATE PATNI ?. I have applied in AD/RP.Still, waiting for my receipt……..

  37. Do you guys know anyone from iGATE PATNI ?. I have applied in AD/RP.Still, waiting for my receipt…………………………

  39. I m in H4 visa and i hav applied for H1 through Reg.process in VSC.
    Have any one received EAC no: for same category?

    • Same here..I am in H4 and applied for H1b regular processing in vermont center…waiting for the receipt

      • @Radhika: My sister also on H4, applied for H1 in Regular Processing… She is from NY…which place you have applied from..?

        • hey guys,

          Even Im in H4 visa and applied for H1 Reg cap/RP/VSC. I haven’t heard anything from my employer also and waiting impatiently for the same. Now I’m getting tensed as many already got the good news. Waiting for my turn. BTW guys do you have any Plan B. If yes, please suggest.
          Thanks

          • If my husband gets an h1b this year, I will be in the same state. Will be on b4 and will have to apply for h1b next year. Have a masters degree in computer science from iit,, work experience in MNC in India. How difficult its it to find a job there in the us?

      • It has started today..I saw in some other forums, ppl have started receiving receipts toady in the mail for RP/VSC.

  41. Guess, we are unlucky..no update yet from USCIS.
    any body in the same category friends – CSC/PP/Regular Cap ?
    did any one get receipt in the above category after 12April?

    • Me to in same category. Attorney did not receive anything yet on my case. Need to wait no idea how long 🙁

        • It’s like sinking Titanic man!! whose boat will come now…else die in cold 🙁 what are we doing here with our life?..trying luck in this land..pitty on myself. well best of luck for others who are still hopeful.

  42. Anyone still waiting for AD/PP/Vermont? I haven’t heard anything yet.. checked with lawyer. Hoping that approval comes in the mail this week.. being optimistic 🙂

  45. Sent on 29 recieved in CA on the 1. No news yet. This is for AD/PP. Is this the end of it all?

  47. I checked with my employer got receipt for two employees from CSC AD/PP out of 5 both issued on diff. date got in USPS. no email.

    • which location is your employer based in? I am just trying to figure our how many days it takes to receive the receipt in mail….?

  49. Still waiting for AD/PP/VSC receipt. Is der any hope left? Any news on waiting list? I am shattered now……:-(

    • Guys, Please hang in there till you get any kind of official confirmation..USCIS is dealing with major intake of applications. They may not be consistent in doing things as expected but results are bound to come in.

    • Guys, I just got my receipt. AD/PP/VSC through mail.

      Date on receipt is April 10. HR ppl said they didn’t receive any email even though the case status says, “we have emailed you blah, blah blah….”

      my receipt number starts like this EAC131325xxxx..

      So don’t worry, there is still hope. But make your back plans as I did until today…

      And also my guess is that even if you don’t get the receipt now, all AD folks might be put in the waiting list

      • The number of ppl who will be put in waiting list is also high ..historically its more than 5000. Because USCIS informed in advance that there will be a lottery, ppl might have sent multiple applications and we can hope that they will withdraw some..

        in 2008 alone
        USCIS send 102, 343 receipts
        approved 86, 567 H-1B’s
        12, 210 were denied
        2, 296 withdrawn
        1660 admin closed or other status

      • who is your employer….sounds like Infosys….they never monitor anything….specially emails for premium processing…:)

    • One of my friends didn’t receive any e-mail, but his attorney got mail today. So, please ask your attorney to look for mails(not e-mails). This might be the case with you too.

    • Hey don’t lose hope man I think..they started send mails for PP too ..so you might be getting in a day or two you know

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