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What’s After H1B 2015 Lottery ? FAQs – Receipt Numbers, Processing Times?

Updated : April 21, 2015- Modified content on additional petitions than 85,000 quota – wait-listing for denials 

As you know, USCIS conducted a lottery on the 172,500 H1B Visa petitions filed for FY 2015 quota and did a press release indicating that the 85,000 petitions selected will be notified with receipt numbers and those not selected will be rejected and returned. I have seen many of our readers asking questions on variety of topics like below.

  • What are the Next Steps after H1B Lottery by USCIS ?
  • Who will get the case number ?  Do I get an email ? Will I get a hard copy ?
  • Who will get the rejected application ? Employer or Employee ?
  • Did anyone receive H1B receipt Numbers for Premium processing ?
  • When will I receive the H1B Case number?
  • How many Master’s degree petitions were received  ? What were my odds in lottery ?
  • Does USCIS select more petitions than 85,000 as backup for denials ?
  • How do I know, if my employer really filed my case ?
  • Can I know the details of my case from USCIS ? What are my choices ?
  • Can I upgrade my case to Premium processing without receipt number ?
  • I have not slept in couple of days, when will I receive my receipt number?

This article addresses all of these FAQs.

What are the Next Steps after H1B Lottery by USCIS ?  

  • USCIS notifies selected Premium Processing  applicants about their receipt numbers
  • USCIS then notifies all selected non-premium/regular  processing  candidates about their receipt numbers through postal mail
  • USCIS completes all premium processing applications adjudication by May 12 (15 calendar days from Apr 28)
  • USCIS continues to process non-premium processing cases once their premium processing applications load is down
  • USCIS starts sending out rejection letters to non-selected candidates

Some of these steps may happen in parallel, while some may happen sequential. Also, the timelines are based upon historical data and it is not possible to predict actual dates for this year.  For general info, you may also read  USCIS Processing time for Regular vs Premium

Who will get the case number ? Employee or Employer ?   Do I get an email ? Will I get a hard copy ?

Usually  the employer/ immigration attorney, who filed the H1B petition would receive the receipt number.  The employee will NOT get any email or hard copy of the receipt number from USCIS.  For selected premium processing petitions, an email with receipt number will be sent to the attorney and then followed by a hard copy in mail. For selected regular processing petitions, a hard copy of the receipt notice with receipt number is sent via standard mail.  Either case, nothing will be sent to the employee, it will always be sent to the employer/ immigration attorney.  Read about What USCIS H1B Case number means

Who will get the rejected application, not selected in lottery ? Employer or Employee ?

The employer/immigration attorney will get the rejected application that was not picked in the random computer generation process/lottery.  It should include the fee you sent as well, unless it was a duplicate filing by the employer for the same employee.

Did anyone receive H1B receipt Numbers for Premium processing ?

Yes, some of our readers have indicated that they received Premium processing case receipt numbers on Friday, April 11th, 2014.  Check the sample USCIS H1B 2015 email receipt.  There is no guarantee that everyone, who filed under premium processing, should receive the case numbers right away this week or in the next week. They may start to receive the case numbers anytime from now, nothing to panic that someone got it and you did not.

USCIS said April 28th  is when they will start the premium processing, How come some are receiving the case numbers and emails  ?

Here is the exact USCIS statement  “While the Form I-797 receipt notice indicates the date USCIS received the premium processing fee, the 15-day processing period set by 8 CFR 103.7(e)(2) will begin no  later than April 28, 2014. “.  If you read carefully, it says ‘NO LATER THAN April 28th “, which means that they will start the 15 day clock for premium processing by April 28th, does not mean they will start on April 28th.  So, technically USCIS can start the processing and send out receipt numbers for Premium processing any time before that as well. In fact, they have already since Friday April 11th.

When will I receive the H1B visa 2015 Case number, if I am selected ?  Regular vs Premium ?  

The premium processing cases selected, ideally should get receipt numbers by April 28th and a decision (approval or RFE) by May 12th ( April 28th + 15 calendar days)  as they are bound by 15 calendar day time limit.  For regular processing, ideally, you would receive the receipt numbers a little later. Last year, we have seen receipt numbers sent until late June. This year, we can expect it to be around the same or maybe a little late like early July, as the USCIS load has increased slightly ( Denying and returning more petitions )

How many Master’s degree petitions were received  ? What were my odds in lottery ?

Unfortunately, USCIS has not officially released any petition numbers received for the master’s degree quota. They have not release it last year too. If someone says a number, it is pure speculation. To calculate your odds in lottery, just use the 172,500. It may not be accurate, but gives you some baseline to know your worst case probability.

Does USCIS select more petitions than 85,000 as backup for denials ?

[Updated on April 21st, 2014 ]  USCIS did not release any official information for FY 2015 saying that they selected or wait-listed more petitions than 85,000 as backup to account for denials. Previously, in 2008 USCIS mentioned in their press release that they have  “wait-listed” some petitions to replace the denials, withdrawal petitions, etc.  But, for this FY 2015 quota, we don’t know.  If USCIS were to follow the same process like in 2008, they would have some “wait-listed petitions” put aside in FY 2015 as well. We just have to wait and see or hear from our users. No official information from USCIS on this.  

How do I know, if my employer really filed my case ?

Well, you have to trust your employer and get the information from him that your petition is filed. Usually, employers are upfront and keep you posted about this and send you the emails/hard copy scans from USCIS. You need to find this from your employer.

Can I know the details of my case from USCIS ? What are my choices ?

Well, this is a roundabout way. USCIS has Freedom of Information act , which can be used to get information regarding you file/case. This could take few months( 6 months ) as there are many requests.  But, there is no guarantee here as it is at the discretion of USCIS. Technically, the H1B petition filed is the employer property and you may not have full rights until you start to work for them legally on H1B. We have heard that some cases information was not disclosed. Again, it depends. Talk to an attorney for more clarification.

Can I upgrade my case to Premium processing without receipt number?

You need the USCIS H1B receipt number to upgrade your case to premium processing. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do, you need to wait for the case number.

I have not slept properly in couple of days, when will I receive my receipt number?

We understand that it can be very stressful period waiting for the petition receipt number and then for processing of the application.  Many of us have been in similar shoes and can empathize your pain. Unfortunately, there is nothing we all can do as it is not in our hands.  Please try to stay calm, focus your personal time on something that you enjoy or with your spouse/kids/friends. Do share your information with our readers on the blog, so all of our readers help each other. We plan to re-build our H1B Tracker with analytics, please post your case once you get the receipt number.

What are your thoughts ?  Did I miss anything  ?   Stay tune for more articles on H1B Visa 2015

 

Photo of author
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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5,206 Comments

  1. @ All – A very generic question not pertaining to any one or any case. Has anyone heard of the denial trend this year ? Do you know any one who got denied and their reasons ?

    Reply
  2. Hi,

    My receipt number is EAC141475*****,Still in initial review stage. It was last updated on 29th Apr 2014, If we take Avg time of processing as per USCIS website, for EAC center it is 2 months, So at least , by 18 july we can get our approval.

    Am I correct……..

    Reply
    • Mine has been more than 2 months now and my employer says these days the cases can be in IR state for about 5 to 6 months.

      Reply
        • 2 Months , keeping in mind all working days, So 18th july,

          You can check last update date in USCIS website by adding your case number.

          Reply
          • But bro why counting working days only??

            Is there anywhere mentioned to count only working days for processing time?

            if yes, then include US holidays also..

  3. Hi

    I had received my receipt # dated 10th April 2014 on uscis website
    # EAC14139
    But haven’t received any information (still on Initial Review)
    Is there anyone who has received any further information. It is regular processing.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • When did u received original receipt copy in mail. Recently or long back……

      Pls provide more details if u can so that we can keep our hope still alive…..was ur application premium or reg …. Ad or reg ….

      Reply
  4. Rejection packages need to go out faster, honestly! It has not been an easy time and especially given that people with receipts are awaiting their decisions and discussing reasons for delays and such, the rest of the applicants need to be informed as soon as possible about the lottery rejection.

    True that those without receipts should already be making plans accordingly, but for those of us going through this, it doesn’t feel right to start making alternative plans until there is clear confirmation regarding the rejection.

    Reply
    • I concur Christine, from the last week or so I have only seen people bickering about RFE and how the status is still on initial review. You will all get approved if you have the right documents it is plain and simple, there are people like me who are still waiting some kind of a response from USCIS reg receipt or rejection packets.

      If you are planning on venting just because you are not comfortable with the processing / post decision activity have some consideration before posting as to others who are awaiting receipts still.

      Reply
  5. One more thing , i have checked next twenty applications just for the ppl who are suffering hard here, i know reply from others definitely boosts morale and keep one strong…
    Nothing has moved for them , all in IR
    Two of them approved cos guess they are pp , as it shows 2 nd may approval.
    Keep calm you will get approval soon and well wac is quite fast then eac as per my evaluation..
    All the best guys

    Happy

    Reply
  6. When was the last date anyone got receipt? I know there is no chance for receipt now but until you get the rejection you can’t stop thinking about it

    Reply
      • Yo buddy u r in India rt now. I assume u have got receipt. U don’t understand a pain whoever not receive receipt or any news from USCIS and currently working here in US. I ve got mine on 2nd June. So stop this lovela lovely alrt

        Reply
  7. Hi did any one called USCIS on the number given in the site and automatic tracker said they sent I797 copy on mail with details on how they will process the pending case.
    Is this the same for all?

    Reply
    • Did you call and received that information?? If they sent you the I-797 that means your visa has been approved and maybe they have not updated your status online yet.

      Reply
      • Even the acceptance notice is called I-797C…approval notice is either I-797A(COS) or I-797B(if you are out of US).

        @Praveen: that is standard line of communication from USCIS, dont worry. Keep calm for your approval. All the best

        Reply
  8. I finally found out what the RFE was about –
    – My case is AD/RP/VSC (H4-H1b thru a consultant)
    – RFE Sent by USCIS on 14-May.
    – RFE is about In-House Project. USCIS asked about justification that someone with my skill set and background is needed for the job, cost , marketing analysis, critical review of their software product, IT returns, etc.
    – I have No IT Background

    Is anyone else in a similar situation?
    Did anyone receive approval after being in a similar situation?

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Its because of such fake “internal projects” many capable, much more worthy than you candidates couldn’t get through lottery.

      Reply
    • Hi All,

      Thank you for being so kind.

      While I hate to be in a situation I am in, this is the vicious world that you get sucked into – where USCIS has such excruciating rules that would leave a qualified MBA in Finance from the USA rather useless. They want us to find an employer who is willing to sponsor h1b in April for a job that wouldn’t start until October. While this isn’t impossible , believe it or not it’s quite hard. I am still trying my best to pick up coding and data warehousing to make myself qualified.

      I understand your resentment and wish I do to change things for myself and everyone else.

      I am still reaching out to any one who has been in a similar situation with any luck?

      Reply
    • no one teaches IT in schools or colleges. it comes with experience in field. there are million of people doing IT jobs with out an IT background degree. so people grow up and dont show you anger on others. she will get approved if consultant answered the question in rightway.

      Reply
    • Can you check +10 numbers after tyour number and -10 number before you to see if all of them are out of IR Status ?Thi swill tell us if they are processing in sequence or not.

      Reply
  9. EAC14147******** Initial review. Any one in this series waiting. How much time it would take for approval. Please respond.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • same series and dont know how long :(.. I have made some research of nearby 30 numbers and found out 53% still under IR , rest are either RFE or approved.

      Reply
    • Hi madhukar ,
      Even I am in same series EAC14147 and it is still in initial review . Pls let us knw if any change in status happens for u .
      Thnks

      Reply
  10. Mine EAC1414353*** . still initial review, Can someone tell me that my employer said they received i797 and under process with USCIS what does this mean? this wait really sucks

    Reply
  11. Any1 under the series EAC14142***** ( Non-AD/Regular/VT) & still stuck at ‘Initial Review’ status as like me, just want to know how the Approval trend is coping .. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Guess what, this is hell of a coincidence – just the moment I started worrying abt getting an RFE – today mine EAC14142***** ( Non-AD/RP) moved to Decision status & with in an hour it moved to Post-decision ( Approved) status, one more step ahead of me is to get the stamping done ..
      Thanks All for your replies & All d best to All who r waiting to get your petitions approved .. Pavani ..

      Reply
      • mine still shows Initial review EAC14137XXXXXX. I know we should wait till end of month but since i didn’t even notice from uscis about lottery selection I am worried. I received the receipt number from the hr who said chck was cashed but no official notice from uscis… one hurdle after another 🙁

        Reply
          • ok, if you are also in the same situation then I am not worried 🙂
            let’s wait for the end of the month… last 3 months have been horrible anyway… more left….

          • I am not sure if we would see any movement by the end of this week. It could even take up to september who knows how this stuff works. Did you file through a consultant?

          • My company filed my visa… yes, the process is very haphazard. the USCIS website says avg time for approval is 60 days. My check was cashed on 4/28 and lottery selection notice has not been received yet.

      • When did you receive RFE . I got the RFE too on 10th June. How much time it took for you to resolve RFE to Post Decision.

        Reply
        • Hey Daniel/Pavani – I am in EAC14141***** and still in IR. Most of the cases in 140* series are still in IR state. I think this might get pushed to July mid month. Wishing Good Luck to all!!

          Reply
          • Well, that is good to hear but we’re in mid June. The notice day for my receipt number was April 29th and I really hope to get the approval before June 29th.

    • @Pavani – did you your petition get approved? Mine too is EAC-14-142-XXXXX ( Non-AD/Regular/VT) and under “initial review”.

      Reply
  12. Hi Guys

    Today my petition got approved.
    Receipt – EAC-14-144-51*** (Regular Quota,Regular Processing)
    My lottery notoce date was 25th April.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  13. Hi

    My consultant didn’t receive any communication till now. Not that I am expecting a receipt at this point of time.. The question is about receiving the rejection package at least. Are the rejections sinking at such a slow pace

    Reply
  14. I’m WAC14139xxxx series and still waiting. Anyone else from the same series number and still waiting. Case is still on initial review…. Please respond

    Reply
  15. Is there anybody with an RFE from WAC_RP got approval after submitting the RFE response ?

    This wait is killing me 🙁

    Reply
  16. Any one in 145 Series still in “Initial Review” status? Application date is April 10th. Stuck in initial review for almost 2 months now 🙁

    Reply
  17. Is there any WAC1413951xxxxx still waiting for approval? I have seen so many approvals for people with receipts 139…

    Reply
  18. My H1B is applied in Regular CAP and Premium Processing. My case status is still ‘Initial Review’ from April 24th.

    Any idea why it is getting delayed?

    Is there anyway to check my petition is really applied in Premium Processing?

    Reply
    • i dont think ur case was applied with premium processing..coz mine has approved with regular processing. anyways you can’t check this..u have to either ask ur employer or attorney who filed it..

      Reply
  19. I have got an RFE for my paystubs and W-2s. My Attorney answered the RFE and USCIS received it by June 4th. Since then it is under response review. My case is AD_RP_CA. Dose anybody know how long will it take to get approval for this kind of RFEs ?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • P.S. This whole H1-B thing became a nightmare for me. I do not have any focus on my life. Since April 1st I had the hardest time in my life and now got stock with this RFE thing.

      I wish this nightmare gets over soon caz if it continues I might loos my job even before getting the H1-B approved ! 🙁 🙁 🙁

      Reply
  20. AD/PP/VT
    Got the return email today…. 🙁 Well, since there is no option of extension of OPT, Going back and coming on Oct 2015 is the only choice now……. sighhhhhhh….. On the bright side, 2 months of torture ended today. 🙂
    Anyway Good luck for all of u guys who were selected. May all of u’r petitions be approved.

    Reply
  21. 1) Has any one of you received a RFE (H4 to H1)? If yes, then what was it about?
    My employer or the attorney refuse to share the RFE with me, saying that it is not pertaining to me.

    2) Has any of you responded to a RFE and gotten approval?

    Reply
    • @Ava,
      I have received RFE for COS H4 to H1b, is about the employer details such as building lease/mortgage docs and how many employes are working in the company.From my side, requested marriage certificate which i missed at the time of applying.
      My employer yet to respond for RFE.I got the RFE on May13
      My case is – EAC141465****

      Reply
        • USCIS says it sent the RFE on 14th May. The problem is my consultant or attorney are not ready to give me info about the RFE, when did they receive it, how many days do they have to respond to it, or the details.

          My case is EAC-14-137-5****.

          Thanks,
          Ava

          Reply
          • @ava I am a little bit confused
            U didn’t know about RFE? I think that every step will be shown on the uscis tracking website?

          • Hi @Hanna,

            I do know that USCIS has sent an RFE. I don’t know what it is about. My employer/attorney received the actual letter , but they are not willing to share it.

      • Hi H42H1,

        Thank you for your response & Congrats! Did you go thru a consultant? And did you have a client letter for a job that’d start in October?

        Reply
    • Hi Friends,
      Just wanted to share my case to hive u perspective. I got my visa approved today 9 th June ( COS h4 to H1 under PP category) . Employer got receipt on 21st April, RFE generated on 15th May 2014, response sent on 22nd May 2014 regarding office premises n operations, visa approved on 9 th June. Hope this helps many in comparing the timeline for their cases. I was in same situation sometime ago. Thank God , n best of luck all of u- those who dont get- its not the end of the world- there is always a plan B. All the best.

      Reply
  22. Hey Guys

    My case is currently in Initial Review and this is the first time that my petition has got selected in Lottery.I am in India rite now, and I am wondering if i can go for Visa stamping as soon as my petition gets approved OR i can go for stamping only during Sep-Oct?I understand that i can start working in US only from 1st oct, but could it be that the Visa can be stamped as soon as petition gets approved before Oct itself?

    Reply
  23. Hi,
    Till yesterday it was on “Initial Review Status”. But today its saying that “Case Status Retrieval Failed”.
    Is anybody facing the same issue.
    My Receipt starts with “WAC1414…

    Please any body update on this….

    Reply
  24. I received my Rejection notice. AD/RP/VT.
    Interestingly the notice date is May 06, 2014, but my attorney received the notice today afternoon.
    I am really down. I wanted to know the job market in India for an IT processional like me? I am in the business intelligence domain pertaining to retail.
    I could take up masters, again, but simply not in the mood.

    Reply
  25. Srikaar ,

    Why you worry about a silly RFE if you have all the documents clear . All USCICS is asking is W2 and paystubs and if you not another fake SOB you willl have it . RFE is no big deal and i can talk from experience . I got RFE and the got denied and then my attorney appealed and sucessfully won my case in 2009 . But what suprises me is that how can somebody give a job to a retarded bigot like you who cant even take a little bit of volatility. So whereever you are form Europe , Sudan or any other place you are just one sick SOB .

    Reply
  26. Peace out dude / douche.

    I dont want to judge you on what religion you belong to but feel sorry for that religion for raising a POS like you. No, I dont hope that your H1B gets denied. I hope it gets approved and that you get fired from the job. I hope you go begging to these body shop consultants to maintain your status and may you forever be enslaved by them.

    Jeez, so much negativity I am throwing out because of you. If only your father would’ve masturbated that day.

    Let Peace prevail with you.

    Reply
  27. Hahaha… Definitely you will be fuc*** by USCIS by putting RFE’S on your application going straight down your fuc***g asshole 😀

    Reply
  28. Hey

    don’t get racist. We all here to slove our issues and get the info which can help. You are taking this to another level which is not right.

    I have studied from loan from a state university and have a full time job in a big company but my H1 did not get selected in the lottery. I am not dipressed and hopeful for the future.This is the system here and we should accept it and there is a chance of improvemnet with this lottery system. Talent should not depend upon lottery.

    In response to ur comments abt the indians or any other race my answer is : Whtevr F**k u eat and wht u do after that? Same thing I guess.

    And if there iz god he is only one and we r his son. IT is just a faith. U do whtevr u want to do F****r as this is a free world but help people who need it.

    Reply
  29. IF THE STATUS IS INITIAL REVIEW, does it mean that they have not started looking at the case?
    its been more than a month since my status is under initial review and I am so scared

    Reply
  30. My case was AD/RP/VT. I Got my EAC no issued on April 18, and I got my H1b approved on May 18. So what I understand, if you have your degree directly related to your job, you will have least problems like RFE. I switched many jobs but my last company and my company profile is same e.g; I am civil engineer and my company is XXX constructors. Otherwise “paystab” and “W2” should not be the cause of your “Denial” untill unless u breached stayed out of job longer than allowed (OPT:more than 3 months) or out-of status by chacnce …Best of Luck

    Reply
  31. Wow, I am afraid to think how angry you would have been if you had actually not been selected in the lottery, like a lot of us!

    Reply
    • Yeah you are right. Even if they are selected in the lottery they don’t have patience. Unlike us who are waiting for rejections or receipts (dunno abt the chances).

      Reply
  32. Hi,

    I just got today my status as rfe. Does this mean there are now less chances of approval? I am really getting scared as it has gone to rfe. Once you reply to rfe, how much time it takes to see the decision?

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • RFE is common as I have heard. degree not matching with h1b job title (electrical engineer applying for web programmer), specialty occupation, employer employee relation .. mine is under initial review and fingers crossed :/ . would u mind sharing first 5/6 digits? mine is eac141475**

      Reply
      • Hi Amit,

        Thanks for your reply. My receipt number is EAC-14-136.

        What are chances of getting approval once we receive rfe ? Actually I am lil worried about it as in some forum it is saying that now ur case might take 6 months or more to come to decision ? Is that true……

        Reply
        • RFE is always unexpected :(.. Only your employer and attorney can answer this question and yes it may take long time for approval.

          Reply
  33. Any approvals for California Center today?
    It seems to me that WAC was ahead of the game when issuing receipts but now I see more people from EAC receiving approvals. I got notice dated April 18th but case is on “initial review” since then. Mine was for day 139 and I have seen people from later days receiving approvals in both centers. Any ideas about this? Anybody else with the same wac141395xxxxxx that have not received approval? Please post approvals so we can know…. Thanks and wishing the best to all of you.

    Reply
  34. For my receipt WAC14141*****. It’s showing “Initial Review” and last updated date 21-04-14. That means my case has not been touched for more than one and half months. It’s Non AD/RP/CA. Any idea when It will be approved?

    Reply
      • Receipts are only sent to those selected from the lottery. The petitions that are not selected from the lottery are sent as return packages to the employers and attorneys (if the petitions were handled by attorneys).

        Reply
          • The chances are very slim at this point given that data entry for all selected petitions were completed several weeks ago and that the processing centers have now begun to send out return packages. Having said that, I would not lose all hope because there are still receipts being sent.

            Have a backup plan, if you have not already made one. I would not recommend waiting and hoping for the best. Good luck DY.

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