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.
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 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.
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?
has any RQ/RP got result ( RFE/acceptance/denial)
Since PP stopped last week, should we expect RP results soon?
My employer emailed me and gave my receipt number, finally long wait of lottery result is over.
RP/RQ/WAC
WAC-13-142-519XX
Wish you all good luck in lottery and further.
hey..congrats..VJY..still waiting for mine
Good luck Bud, You should have your # in email. God bless.
*mail
My employer has updated me the attorney confirmed him that Check has been withdrawn for my application. I am not sure when I will be getting the receipt. Can anybody update me , how much time does that take.
I am in the same boat….My employer has confirmed that I got picked but waiting for receipt
Hi Bh1,
My employer confirmed me on 23rd apr that my check has cleared..and till date am waiting for recedipt
Finally got my H1b visa today.. RP/RQ/CSC.. good luck to everyone waiting for their petition.. dont lose hope guys.. and all the best
Is it Visa or receipt? Please reconfirm
Sorry, correction there.. I meant receipt..
How did you know it? Did your status in AIMS get updated or did you receive an email?
“infosys_RP/RQ/CSC” id is posting false news..no updates yet..
Please avoid spreading false news man…
Seem like exploding a air balloon on back of a person trying to defuse a bomb.. 🙁
🙂 🙂
Got the receipt number today from my company
Regular Processing/General quota
Also forgot to add, it was a long wait and I had almost lost all hope. All those who are still waiting, dont lose hope. I sincerely wish they extend the cap and everyone gets it this time
Long wating period over …… My employer sent me an email mentioning about the selection of my petition (regular, receipt EAC-13-139XXXXX). Best of luck who’re already waiting!!!
Really a BIG sigh of relief today after I saw an email from my attorney mentioning about the selection of my petition (regular, receipt EAC-13-144XXXXX). Be hopeful who’re already waiting!!!
@Srishti
Can you please tell who is your employer?
Petition was self-filed and not via any employer…!!!
Please help me here, How anyone can file the petition for Him/Her self.
can you share info that might help me and others.
What?? Self-file?? I must be really seeing crazy things now
Anyone from Infosys received the receipt no.?
Mine is RQ/RP and I haven’t received the receipt so far. Is it worth waiting further?
i am RP/AD. Do I have any hopes? I just saw RR/RP getting receipts this week.
Is there any hope still left for RQ/RP/VSC? No clues that the check has been encashed but the employer still maintains that we should wait till 15th of May before we can start thinking negative, unless the application has been waitlisted. Best of luck to all those waiting…
I am also waiting for the receipt.any idea for how long the regular processing receipts will be generated?
Got the receipt just right now at 8:48 pm 4/29/13…this means we are still getting receipts.. dont lose hope.. I filed wid desi consultant… so there are no differentiate here…
My employer filed for 6 and 3 got their receipts on Friday.. I and other 2 did not. Shud I keep hope:-(..
Any one from HCL got any update on H1 B receipt? ISG guys are not responding to SSD.
It looks like indian based consulting companies are not getting the receipts yet or getting delayed. I am not sure about this. But is this true mates?
Hopefully…. USCIS is prioritizing people on OPT and STEM
We cannot generalize that way as many regular candidates are receiving receipts now.
Sorry, my previous sentance should be without those “…..” Should be more like Hopefully USCIS is prioritizing people on OPT and STEM
Just received my receipt note from california service center RQ/RP.Best of Luck.
L1 to H1 –
No status yet. Applied through a start up product company who is applying h1 for the first time. Will it be the fault.
Really nervous but not losing hope. Any comments?
I just check on my attorney website today for the receipt update and discovered it has been updated on his website since the 17th, I have not bothered to check but just mailed yesterday and he asked me to check. I then checked on USCIS website and found the status is a Post Decision that it is approved. I was surprised because I actually thought it will take like 2-3months before approval if I selected in the lottery, I am happy though. Wish you guys luck
hi Ayy,
R u on premium or regular??
Regular
Hi Guys it seems there are multiple forums running ever since the first one closed off.
I received my Receipt today.
EAC131455XXXX
Received Date April 8th
Notice Date April 25th
RQ/RP/VSC.
No updates on Check and DSO wont disclose on SEVIS. Was on OPT STEM ext. NJ Office got snail mail. Attorney in NYC. Best of luck to all, you all are in my prayers.
@Pkaiser,
Did you try calling USCIS before? If ya, were you in their system?
No they couldnt tell me at that time. I replied to you in the other forum as well buddy, Keep your hopes up 🙂 DOnt lost hope. God will do right.
Hey No worries ok you will I am sure!
For me too was total uncertainty. On grounds of legal responsibility they had to wait officially to wait for the physical receipt to arrive before declaring anyhting. DSO wouldnt disclose either and then no updates on Checks either mate.
Then out of nowhere when i had given up hope it happened. Believe in God, he will answer prayers.
Anyone from CTS with RQ/RP/VSC have got receipt numbers in the last few days?
One of my frnd from CTS waiting for receipt. ( RQ/RP/CSC)
Yes, I and few of my friends received yesterday
congrats…
Got the receipt no today…this means we are still getting receipts …Mine is RQ/RP/EAC
Hi,
Mine is RQ/RP/CSC.
Thanks.
any receipts generated today from CSC???:|
does the receipt numbers that USCIS is generating like this EAC1314751001 are all these related to 85k cap H1b’s ?
or they might also belong to the H1B extensions?
normally where do they process H1B extension applications?
Dear Friends,
Don’t loose hope. I got my receipt # today. The notice date is April,23. All the best.
Are you an AD?
RP/RQ/VSC
No checks cashed. No SEVIS update. Anyone else? Please don’t let me be the only one…
You are not the only one, the same situation…
Same situation. I am on OPT extension currently ending in april 2014. No updates on Sevis , no update on checks…
I think, if you are on OPT extension and the end date is as far as next year, SEVIS won’t reflect anything until H1B gets approved. Just my understanding..
RP/RQ/VSC still waiting for the receipt number.I am also on the same boat.
Its 29th today…. for PP guys (like me) … still 2 more days to go…
For non PP guys … Don’t worry you have plenty of time…
PP guys look for another options too.. like extend your OPT .. Take admission or marry whatever..
Non PP guys .. chill and wait for your turn..you will get your receipts soon.
Good Luck n Njoy..
Emre, if only you knew how I feel ya! God, how hard I want to hear the news. Have panic attacks, can’t sleep at night.
Hope it’s gonna be over soon, either way, but just over!!!
Good luck, man!
Got my receipt today!!
RQ/RP/VSC
Best of luck to everyone!!
Hi Moor
Congrats! When did u get to know n how?
My employer just told me 3 of them got their receipts on Fri eve.. RQ/RP/VSC
I just got to know now. My employer got a snail mail it seems.
Hi Moor,
Can you please tell if you tried checking your sevis status or check status before? If ya , what was it?
@h1b wait
Checked status ..Still in Initial review.
@moor,
I wasn’t asking for your current status. I was asking if you tried to check the SEVIS update or check cashed update before getting the receipt?
Well..kind of still used to see a check as “cheque”:)
Never asked about an update though anytime about it being encashed.
So just out of curiosity , when will the cheque get encashed..after approval?
Hi ,
I have received the receipt number on 24th and it is premium processing .But when I check the status in online it is showing as accepted from 24th onwards.Status not changing to initial review.
any Idea?
same in my case
still in acceptance since 24th
Anybody got receipt today?
Hi,
My lawyer sent me an email saying this regarding my RFE.
Hi,
They are requesting additional documentation between xyz(my company) and abc(the client where I am working). I am collecting this documentation and will let you know if I need anything from you.
I emailed him back asking does that mean they are looking for client letter? He didnt reply my email nor picks up the phone 🙁
Does anyone know what does this means?
Thanks
In 99% of such cases, it is the client letter. If you are working for another company that you aren’t an employee of, they need a client letter.
RQ RP not received any receipt or update yet …does it means I am not selected in lottery
Same situation here. My hopes are very thin now :'(
Me too…about to lost…..
Its a request to all members don’t stop talking…this is the only place where I came and feel little confidence….those who are waiting including me…we have to take care of each otehrs
True..ever since they closed the other post where everyone was telling about their receipts, this forum seems really empty. Anyone else waiting RQ/AD/PP/RP whatever .. please post.
Yes .. Me too.. RQ/RP/CSC
REG, PP, VSC – waiting
Me too waiting.RQ/RP
Yeah, the other thread that got closed was quite informative and people posted their comments frequently. It’s too bad that that particular thread got closed.
RQ/RP.. Waiting
RQ/RP VSC still waiting for my receipt:(
Don’t loose hope yet. USCIS is still processing applications and this week is the most crucial one where you can expect everyone who has been selected in the lottery to receive notifications. My receipt was generated on 19th April (WAC 13137-) but I received it on 25th April. I live in Arizona. Wait for another one week and then start looking for employers who are cap exempted.
@NKumar,
When did you come to know that ur cash has been encashed ?
I came to know about my check after I received the receipt on 27th April.
@Nkumar Thanks 🙂
same here waiting…..
Got the RFE for – Step By Step Duty for Budget Analyst being an MBA- Finance. Any have any RFE response copy in this matter. I would appreciate if any one can help me on this one please.
I got the receipt number from my employer. Using the receipt number, I checked the status on USCIS, it says initial review.
Does this mean that I got selected in the lottery?
@srini I can tell once u share first 5 digit of ur reciept number 😛
I got the receipt number from my employer. Using the receipt number, I checked the status on USCIS, it says initial review.
Does this mean that I got selected in the lottery?
It WAC-13-138XXXXX
It is WAC-13-138XXXXX
btw. it has to do nothing with first five digits. I wanted it to know which day approvals r being received . u hav reciept no means u r selected. now do another long wait till the status changed to approved.
congrats
Thank you very much for the info. I got the receipt number last week, I thought everyone who applied would get a receipt number. 🙂
Anyone from Infosys …RP/RQ/VSC got any receipt yet ? AIMS shows no updates …but all other company has already started sending updates ….to employees ….did anyone from infy get any update yet ?
not yet… 🙁
Still waiting :).
I’m Happy…
I got email from my employer that my H1B petition got selected in Lottery…
Mine is RP/RQ/VSC…
Yet to get my Case Number…
congrats. plz share ur first 5 digit of reciept
I just got a mail from employer that it got selected and he would send me case number… Will share it wen i get… 🙂
Hi,
My receipt number is WAC1313165xxxxx. I received the notice on Friday morning US time I think.
I mean WAC13-136-5xxxx
congrats
RP/RQ/VSC still waiting
I am on H4 to H1 and the visa is gonna expire in August ’13…is this gonna create any problem issuing me a visa ?
I hope so.
Nothing as far my experience. Mine s also the sme case.. Got visa approved for 3 years with COS! If you need more info- libis22 at gmail dtcom.
All the best!!
Got a mail from the employer — felt like won the jackpot (rc/rp/wac)!
Relaxed.
For others, for information, before a notice is generated, money is cashed. And it does not take the receipt notice to reach more than a week.
congrats, plz share first 5 digit of reciept.
Guys my advise to those who all waiting is to ask your employer or attorney to call Uscis to know the status, der is always delay in reaching receipts for regular category through mail, so if you are worried reach Uscis through your employer .
Peace of advise worked in me and friend case.
Hi,
just got my number WAC-13-138XXXXX
RQ/RP/WAC.
Best of luck to all of you.
@sergie congrats
RQ/RP still no receipt..colleagues have gotten theirs.
Time for plan B? 🙁
No, I just got mine from day 138, yesterday was 146 and they are still generating numbers.
Let it another 10 days.
Seregi, Were are your employer/attorney located, just trying to count for the time taken between vermont and different cities for mail to reach.
By the way guys i do see USICS processing around 600 applications today, day 147.
why is the other discussion thread not working?? any clues??
Even I was wondering …
I guess the other discussion forum has reached its threshold
We can continue our discussion in this thread i believe
Rishi and others,
Please let me know if your employer replied to RFE and any updates on RFE
@Sid probably later half of this week. but not sure..
Rishi,
My RFE will mostly replied by today or tomo my employer said.
So once they reply within how many days I can hear from USCIS , Ya mine is PP but will they take 15 days or even earlier is possible
worst case is 15 days from the day when the status ‘PP clock started’
usually it will be lesser than that
Rishi
Is ur RFE replied or not
I am in the same category with PP clock stopped as of 17 April….my employer has not replied to RFE yet, also has not disclosed the document asked for by USCIS during RFE.
May be will get some update this week…
Keeping fingers crossed
I saw my petition is approved on April 16, but my agent (Fragmon) does not notify me yet. It is 10 days, anybody is in the same situation ? what’s going on at that side ? why it takes so long ?
I might be in similar situation as my lawyer is same as yours. btwn how did you find that your app was selected? thanks
Hi,
I am still waiting for my receipt. Its almost end of the month and no news yet. Praying hard , hope I get to post here soon that I too have received the receipt.
Thanks
yeah….now its tough to wait
its end of month…now just 2 working days remaining….:(
while we have to wait till end hopes are reducing every day. I hope there are many receipts in mail and on the way ..
Stay Tuned ….You will make it
i have one qstn – i am in usa on L1 visa and i have got my H1 petition approved yesterday. I want to go back to India and live there for next few months. Is it ok to go or I can go after 1st october only? i am not planning to come back till 6-7 mnths. my attorney says i cant leave till Oct 1. why so? is it only a problem if i wanna come back to usa before 1st oct?
First of all, My congrats for getting your petition approved !!!
Yes, You can go back to India and come back here in L1 till end of Sep. Once you go out of this country, you will lose your status, so no change even if you applied H1 with COS.
But after Oct’1, If you wanted to come here in H1, you have to go for stamping in India.
Congrats!! First one am hearing petition approved for COS l1b to H1b with out RFE so far in this forum. Did u applied H1b with the same employer whom u r now in l1b or diff?
yes same company.
Can some one share the latest receipt number from CSC?.
HI Guy’s
Don’t Lost the hopes… just know few minutes back I got call from my employar
about my check got cleared, that means I Got selected under lottery.(i wan one victim in 2008, i want not selected in Lotter that time)
Don’t lose hopes.. my employar told me that till may first week this process will go.
Thanks for Redbus for sharing wonderfull inforatmion
dont loose hopes, I was almost lost my hopes and planning to go back India.
and one more thing today i have not seen many comments , then i thought Lottery is over. but thats not true…
still chances are there…. my friends you listen good news sooon..
have a great day.
Thanks
Nkumar
@NKumar – can you please share the notice date and receipt date and receipt number at least till day of the receipt?.
Hi,
My employar told me that receipt will take few days one or two days.
but my check got cleared, once i have receipt and receipt date then i will share you..
dont worry you will get , dont lose hopes…
Thanks
Nkumar
@ Nkumar Thanks for the positivewords.
Waiting …
You will get it , don’t worry brother..
my employar last week he got 11 out of 14.
and today he got mine…
That means every one will get .
Thanks
Nkumar
Congrats Friend.. In our group only one got receipt. We four filed in the same day with the same lawyer for RQ/RP/CSC. What is your case while filing petition?? Let us know.
Mine is L-1B.. Dont worry brother , I lost my hope.
but god grace, he will do wonderful things.. don’t worry you will get it
hey guyz i got my reciept yesterday…..Regular ,Non-PP,CSC…dont worry u will receive it don’t loss your hope….they have started sending receipt for regular cases……i was in same worry 2 dayz before…….
@N Kumar
Glad you made it this time. Good luck 🙂
@NKumar Thanks much !!! Congrats to u !!!!!!
Now u got h1b visa..learn to spell in English..Its EMPLOYER not EMPLOYAR,,,
Thanks for your valid suggestion, and thanks for your comment about my English.. but you know I m in hurry, excuse me for my typos..
I think you got it…
I received my receipt # a few days ago. But my employer told me that doesn’t mean I was selected in the lottery. She said she checked that my status was initial review and she was certain that just meant that I was entered into the lottery.
Could anybody give me some clarification here? Does receiving the receipt number means you are entered into the lottery or selected in the lottery? I’d really appreciate it!
you are selected in lottery. but your petition approval is pending. It should take 3-4 weeks . after which u r eligible for visa interview.
Thank you!
Your employer is probably just pulling your leg. 😛