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H1B Visa Case Receipt Number, Petition Number – IOE, EAC, WAC – Meaning?

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USCIS H1B Receipt Number format and meaning

USCIS accepts various kinds of H1B petitions, such as new H1B cap-subject petitions, petitions for H1B extensions, H1B petitions for the transfer of companies, and H1B cap-exempt petitions. One thing is common: they all receive an H1B Receipt Notice from USCIS indicating they received the H1B petition.

When you look at the USCIS-issued Receipt notice for the H1B petition, it would have a receipt number or case number. This number can be used to track the petition’s status with USCIS.

If you are new to the process, looking at the long number and guessing what that number means can be puzzling. In this article, we will cover what the H1B Case Receipt Number or Petition Number indicates by looking at each of the letters in the H1B Case Number.

Article Contents hide
1. What is the H1B Visa Case Number? Petition Number?
2. H1B Petition Number vs. Receipt Number
3. Understanding the H1B Case Receipt Number, Petition Number
4. How to Check the H1B Case Status on USCIS.gov?

As a background, if you are a first-time H1B applicant, you will need to go through the H1B Visa registration Lottery process, and only if you are selected in the H1B lottery, then you would be eligible to file an H1B petition with USCIS. Also, the H1B petition can only be filed by a Company. As an applicant, you cannot file the H1B petition alone.

What is the H1B Visa Case Number? Petition Number?

USCIS sends a “Form I-797C, Notice of Action” after they receive the H1B Petition. This form is called the H1B Receipt Notice. It is a generic form used to notify the receipt of a petition or application, but the Class requested field indicates whether it is a receipt notice for an H1B petition or not.

As part of sending the H1B receipt notice, USCIS assigns a unique case receipt number for every H1B petition they receive. The receipt number consists of 13-digit alphanumeric characters and typically starts with three alphabets, like WAC or EAC, based on where it was filed.

This 13-digit alphanumeric number is called the H1B receipt or H1B Petition Number. It appears at the top of the H1B Receipt Notice (Form I-797C, Notice of Action), as shown in the screenshot below.

H1B Receipt Number on USCIS Receipt Notice
H1B Receipt Number on USCIS Receipt Notice

H1B Petition Number vs. Receipt Number

People sometimes use the term “H1B Petition Number” and ask for the “H1B receipt number”. This can be confusing if you are new to it. The “H1B Petition Number” and the “H1B Receipt Number” or “H1B Case Receipt Number” mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably.

On some websites, you may be asked to fill out the H1B Petition Number; in some cases, you may be asked to enter the H1B receipt number or USCIS H1B Case number. In all these cases, you would use the same 13-dight alphanumeric number on the H1B receipt or approval notice. If you are filling out the H1B Visa Stamping application, you will asked to fill out the Petition Number, which is nothing but the H1B Case Receipt Number.

Understanding the H1B Case Receipt Number, Petition Number

Of the 13-digit alphanumeric characters that are part of the H1B Case Receipt Number or Petition Number, each set of characters has a specific meaning. We need to break them out properly to understand them correctly.

We should break down the H1B Case Number into sets of characters grouped like below:

  • XXX—XX—XXX—XXXXX
  • EAC—24—128—50345 ( example for H1B FY 2025 filed petition)

Now, let’s look at each of the groups of characters.

First 3 Letters of H1B Case Number: EAC, WAC, LIN, IOE, SRC

The first three characters indicate where the H1B petition was filed.

  • EAC – Vermont Service Center (old name: Eastern Adjudication Center).
  • WAC – California Service Center (old name: Western Adjudication Center).
  • LIN – Nebraska Service Center (LIN refers to Lincoln, Nebraska).
  • SRC – Texas Service Center (old name: Southern Regional Center).
  • IOE – IOE stands for Integrate Operation Environment(where the petition was processed); it is not a service center location but indicates that the petition was filed electronically or electronically scanned and processed. In the H1B petition context, it was scanned at a shared service center and then processed. The service center details will be at the bottom of the receipt notice.

Following 2 Letters of H1B Case Number: Year of filing

The following two digits indicate the year when it was filed. It is not the fiscal year but rather the calendar year when the petition was filed. Do not try to read something that says WAC2023XXXX to think it is related to the year 2023, you should only look at the following two letters after the first three characters.

  • For the H1B Visa FY 2024 season, it would be 23
  • For the H1B Visa FY 2025 season, it would be 24

Subsequent 3 Letters of H1B Case Number – Computer Working Day

The next three digits indicate the computer working day of the USCIS fiscal year that starts from October 1st. It indicates the computer workday does not include weekends and holidays. USCIS computers do not work on weekends and USA National holidays :-).

October 1st is when the fiscal year starts for USCIS. If your H1B was filed on October 1st, it would be 001. It is a little tricky with this number; computer workday indicates only working days and not weekends.

For example, if it is October 20th, it would be the 16th working day or something like that…For April 12th, it would be 134 as the weekends and federal holidays are taken out. You can use websites like TimeAndDate to compute that number.

  • For April 8th, it would be 128.

Subsequent 5 Letters of H1B Case Number – Actual Case Number

The following five digits is the actual case number and is assigned based on some internal USCIS logic. There is no guarantee that it would start with 0001 and go in sequence. Sometimes, it may start with 5; sometimes, it may be with other digits as well.

  • One sample number would be 51244

Below is a nice visual explaining the H1B Receipt Number format. It is the same as any other USCIS Receipt Number format.

USCIS Case Number Format - What they mean
USCIS Case Number Format – What they mean

How to Check the H1B Case Status on USCIS.gov?

After you receive your H1B Visa Receipt case number, all you would have to do is to track the status on USCIS website. Read How to Check H1B Petition Status on USCIS website.

Premium Processing for H1B :

If you were to file H1B visa petition under premium processing, you would have received the case number and a confirmation email that your petition was received by USCIS and it is under processing. Usually your attorney or your employer would get that information. Once your case is approved, similar email with approval status would be updated via email.  A hard copy would be emailed after the emails to the address specified in petition.

Regular Processing for H1B:

If you were to file your H1B visa petition under regular processing, you would not necessarily get an email from USCIS, rather you would get a hard copy receipt mailed to your employer or attorney.  Also, decision information would be mailed to your attorney or employer after the decision.

You can read Steps after H1B Lottery – Flow Chart to know more on the next steps

Did I miss anything?  Any other thoughts to add?

   

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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.

3,682 Comments

  6. I got RFE and my employer confirmed it. They will send the docs next week. Currently am in L1b and applied for H1b. Guys from L1b to H1b can u please share whether anyone got approval so far? Curious to know because in all forums i could see RFE for all L1b to H1b. Its very tough to get through lottery and even after getting selected its really disappointing because of RFE stuff.

    Reply

  7. Hi Everyone,
    I have been a silent spectator of this blog. Finally after so many days, I got the golden email stating my receipt no. Mine is RP/RQ/CA and current status is Intial review.
    Did anyone have got the approval notice under RP/RQ/CA? How much time it will take for decision?

    All the best to all waiting guyz! Thanks!

    Reply

  9. Hi Everyone,

    I got the recipt number today. When i checked the status on USCIS it says “your Alien Registration Number was changed relating to your I129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER”.

    What does this message means?

    Reply

  10. Did any of your attorney receive hardcopy of your approved petition? How many days it takes after get the approval email.

    Reply

  11. All,

    This is my journey so far:

    I was working for a top MNC in India, put my papers in 2011, moved to US on L2 with my wife, got EAD in 2012, started working for the same company in the US last April. Applied for H1 this year, got my receipt on April 11th. Got petition approved today.

    Regular\PP\EAC

    Good luck to everyone who is waiting for their receipts/approvals.

    Reply

  13. Got a RFE for client letter.

    who should sign the client letter – should it be HR?
    or
    Can the engineering manager sign too , who i report too?

    Reply

    • Don’t be a moron now. This is serious. Ask your attorney for action items. If CIS do not get what they need they will reject the petition. Every case is unique. So stop asking for specific advise in forums.

      Reply

  17. What does it mean if we get two separate notifications, two days apart, about an RFE request on our case? Does that mean that they found something additional that they want information about – literally a second topic that they are requesting evidence for? Or is that just a glitch/update of the system that generates a second message but we in fact only have one RFE?

    Ultimately I want to know whether we should expect/wait for two letters and then respond with information that addresses both, or if we should respond with information when we get the first letter and not worry if we never get a second?

    Reply

    • What do you mean? Did you receive two letters?
      Are the requesting two different things? They can give as many RFEs as they want.

      Reply

  19. Hi All,

    When do we come to know If our application is selected in Lottery or not?

    Has anyone received non selection in Lottery Notice?

    Reply

  20. Attorney received I-797 after 8 days (the hardcopy one through mail), I think they get an electronic version which is a I-797(C) as soon as the petition gets approved!

    Reply

    • Hello luckyg,

      When did your petition get approved? My petition was approved on 17th Apr and my employer still waiting for the approval notice.

      Reply

  22. I had been informed by my HR last week that i was selected but as it turned out there was some confusion between the attorney and HR. I am still hoping i will get lucky soon. 🙂

    Based on the comments here, i advised my employer and attorney to call USCIS and ask the case update. As per my attorney “We cannot follow up with USCIS regarding a specific case especially if there is nothing wrong with the process.”.

    Can someone point me to some official link which mentions that the attorney/employer can call USCIS and enquire the status. I can share same with my attorney.

    I belong to the group who think that the attorney/employer should call the USCIS and not the employee impersonating as employer. Hopefully i keep my patience, especially because my HR would be on leave for 3 weeks starting next week and the attorney is not too accomodating when it comes to answering my concerns. Despite couple of reminders, my attorney never shared the tracking number for my petition but insists that it was delivered.

    Can someone share such official link?

    Also, to update this is what my attorney said:

    We have been informed that the data entry for regular processing cases will likely not be completed until sometime in May. Please note that when the cap was reached on the first day in 2008, USCIS did not complete data entry and issue receipt notices until late in May.

    Reply

    • I know this wait can be irritating as me too had to wait.. but my 2 cents here.
      many commented on other thread (http://redbus2us.com/uscis-received-124000-h1b-visa-2014-petitions-official-lottery-update-results/)that PP processing might go on till April 30th. So it seems like your employer gave you correct information. You wont get any information on a specific case if you call USCIS and wait for 1 hour on line.. even I dont think your employer or attorney is gonna do that.. Best thing is to wait and keep yourself busy in work or anything and one fine day you will hear the good news.. also I can understand you will be tensed but be careful in dealing with your company as you might need to keep that relation intact..
      All the best!!

      Reply

  24. Hiii Kavitha , Waiting , Hope and other H4 friends

    Today my friend got her receipt number she s on H4 and RC/RP .
    So don’t loose hope we all will get our receipt number soon 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks Sweets
      I got an update from my employer today that my check has been encashed though they are yet to receive the receipt number.
      Alll the very best to all of us . Hope we all get our receipts soon..

      Reply

  25. AD/RP/VSC Received my Receipt yesterday from my lawyer…She actually received it 1 week ago but she forgot to let me know..well anyways Good Luck to all the guys who are waiting for a receipt. and also good luck to all the guys in RFE. Mine is in Initial Review right now. The word is that all the AD category people will get through no matter what..lets hope that is indeed the case..

    Reply

  26. Guys,
    Everyone who got RFE’s – is your employer a big company ? or a small company ? or a desi consultancy ?

    I belong to a desi consultancy and would like to know the chances for myself too…

    Reply

    • I am Full time employer for a big company working for almost 2 years on my OPT. As far as I know all the required document has been submitted like pay stubs, degree and my job and degree matches as well. I do have microsoft certification in my job related. I am really surprise why this is happening to me. And its almost a week my employer doesnt have any updates 🙁

      Reply

      • Hi,

        I am with Desi consultancy, yesterday on 23rd morning my status was in Acceptance stage, at 1:00 PM changed to RFE and again in 2 hours it changed to Initial review with clock stopped message :(. And my lawyer didn’t receive anything yet.

        Reply

  27. Guys. I received my receipt number. Finally. AD/RP/WAC
    I emailed my DSO (since I am on OPT) and he gave me the good news.
    All I can say is, hang tight. The lottery thing isn’t as bad as it is portrayed to be. If you have a US Master’s you have nothing to worry about.

    Reply

    • That is true. I have around 10 friends who applied on AD category and all of them got picked. I feel who are in AD category most of them are being picked.

      Reply

      • Dude, don’t say this :). Few weeks back, I too wrote like this & people from abroad did not like it and it became a frenzy debate. Of course all AD friends that I know got Receipt Number. I hope everybody ll get H1 this year. All the best to friends who are waiting.

        Reply

  28. Hi Guys,

    I need some help. I am on H4 visa currently and applied for H1 in RP/RQ/CSC. Is there any way to know the COS from H4 to H1. Help is highly appreciated.

    Reply

    • Your petition approved? What do you want to know regarding COS?
      If you have validity of H4 beyond October, your COS will get approved provided you have not traveled outside US after applying for H1. mail me your details to libis22 at gmail com
      Mine is same case which got approved.

      Reply

  30. Hi All,
    Is there any chance still I can get the receipt number? How long I can keep my hope alive?
    Mine is a COS from H4 to H1.

    Reply

          • Hi
            Is there any way to check the COS status as we are already on H4.If yes, please let me know. I think that might help us. Waiting is killing me. If I get to know the result, I will work on plan B instead of reading this blog or waiting endlessly for result.

          • COS will only happen on October first. The only way you can know about your application is through your attorney (receipt email or mail). talk to attorney and employer. If its regular processing, results might get late… All the best to all of you!

  32. Hi,

    Is anyone familiar with this scenario and what does that mean? Here is the scenario:
    My status went to RFE on April 18th but today April 24th it went to Initial Review with clock stopped message. My lawyer still doesnt have any information. Please let me know if anyone has been on same conditon or knows what it is.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Same situation. 17 APR RFE – 19 APR Intital REview clock stopped. Havent heard anything from lawyer and employer. Not sure if it is an RFE. All my employer says is to wait and it will change sometime.

      Reply

      • Did you file in premium? Mine is a similar case.. went on RFE last week but then with in 2 days got in ‘initial review’ and then clock stopped.. my great employer doesnt have any info either..

        Reply

      • Mine are the same dates. Got RFE on 17th April and then got ‘initial review’ on 19th April. Some goof-up in updating status I guess and hope..

        Reply

        • Hi Guys,
          My Company lawyer just send me an email saying they recieved the RFE letter this morning probably it happened after my status changed from RFE to Initial Review. I hope you all get it soon as well. But that is so weird he doesnt want to tell me what they needed :s

          Reply

  36. @Mahaveer..
    No they did not.
    You miss read the post 🙂 The status changed to RFE on 22nd in USCIS website and when I
    reached to my employer/attorney they did not receive any update.
    On 23rd my employer received the approval notice email and after 20 mins the status on the website changed to approved / decision status..

    Reply

      • Do not worry Mahaveer. I saw some similar posts which were later moved to approved.
        Generally if it is a real RFE, it would be sticky in status and your employer would get the details with in 3-4 business days. Hope you would hear some news soon from your employer.

        Others who are in regular processing and still waiting for Receipt Notices please read the post from Murthy..
        “The most recent estimate by the USCIS for the completion of data entry and issuance of receipt notices for non-premium cases is sometime in May.”
        http://www.murthy.com/2013/04/26/h1b-cap-case-selection-update-as-of-april-23-2013/

        Reply

  38. Hello All,

    After a nerve wrecking 23 days I am writing to share my experience.

    My Case:
    Apr 1st Case submitted AD/PP/VSC/All Docs including Client Letter
    Apr 10th Case Selected ..131315**** and Case in Acceptance
    No Change of Status…………………
    Apr 22nd 12:30 PM Status Changed to RFE, contacted attorney via Employer. No Status update
    Apr 23rd 12:40 PM Got confirmation from Attorney that Case Approved for 3 years.
    Apr 23rd 1:00 PM Status Changed to Approved on USCIS Website.

    Wish Good Luck for all who are waiting..Please do not loose hope…
    Trust me this is my 3rd attempt for H1B..

    Reply

  40. Anyone received approval for Regular Quota and Regular Processing yet?

    How long does it take to get the approval?

    Thanks

    Reply

    • wait buddy. ur process just started. wait for atleast 2 mnths.. if u want it to be done sooner u can pay the premium fees and get it done in 15 days.

      Reply

    • Stop showing off you got through lottery.
      You can search in google and you will get sufficient information about how long it could take to get regular processing approved.

      Reply

  41. Sid and other RFE guys

    any updates from your side?
    I’m waiting for client letter. Request submitted to client. But the problem client will give the letter in his own format and will not contain the number of years…

    tensed

    Reply

    • Hi, how and when did you know what the rfe was from your employer. My status changed from rfe on 17 APR to Initial Review on 19 APR. Havent heard anything from attorney/employer yet. Thanks

      Reply

    • Rishi,

      May be today or by tomo my employer will reply to RFE i spoke to them on Monday.
      They said we are making this ready with care so that again there wont be any issues.

      Dont no what they are doing bcz of these delays i am frustrated day by day.

      Any updates form u

      Reply

      • I’m waiting for client letter. Employer said he does not want to pressurize the client as there is plenty of time to respond to RFE

        I guess they should receive the client letter before this weekend and they might submit the RFE sometime next week

        Reply

    • No Updates yet 🙁 but today my status changed from RFE to Initial Review with clock stopped message. I dont know whats going on.

      Reply

  46. I got the receipt number today from my employer, in Regular Quota Regular Processing. However the status on USCIS site says – “On April 17, 2013, your address was changed relating to the I129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER that you filed.” What does that mean? Has anybody seen this?

    Reply

        • HI Status,
          I am RQ/RP/VT, with fragomen law firm. Do you think it is a normal status and will it have something to do with the final decision? Do we need to do something for that?

          Just a little bit worried…

          Reply

          • I am not sure, if there is something to be worried or not. However I do not see any details about this status for petition. However ours being a regular petition, it is still a long way to hope for any thing, I think. Still if you get to know any update about this, please keep posted.

          • Hi Pankaj,
            I will let you know once I have any update regarding the status, please keep me posted as well 🙂

          • To pankaj ella and all whose status shows address change….
            You do not have to worry about the status in which it says your address is changed… usually lot of lawyer do change mailing address for people they applied just to make sure your all case documents goes to specific lawyer in big law firm so they can manage your file easily … Big Law firm has lot of case filed in thousands and when mail come from uscis to lawyer they have to manage all the thiongs carefully so i often so lawyer changes the address according to the file which is assigned to the specific lawyer in big law firm.
            it is nothing to worried about it.. mine was similar case my h1 filed through big lawyer company and they did same after they got receipt they changes the address but its just changing mailing address….. mine is approved as well after week… so do not worry about address change…. its similar as like initial review..

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