What does Case Received and Pending mean?
June 14, 2008 by Raghu
Good to see many are getting their H1B Visa Receipt numbers. But, the comments so far shows, many are not clear about what is “Case Received and Pending’.
When your H1B application is selected in the lottery, USCIS will send a receipt number that will uniquely identify your case ( your H1B Visa application). Here is the list of services available when your status is ‘Case Received and Pending’
- Accelerated Processing
- If Your Case Is Outside Our Current Processing Time
- Processing Times and Case Status
- Services Available to You Anytime While Your Case is Pending With USCIS
- USCIS Expedite Criteria
If you are still not sure what does that mean - here is my explanation/understanding of ‘Case Received and Pending’
- First, your H1B visa application is selected in lottery.
- USCIS will issue receipt number to identify and track your H1B visa processing status.
- It will take usually 2-3 months to approve your H1B visa petition. If you have applied through Premium processing ( by paying additional $1000), after H1B petition is selected under lottery, within 2-3 weeks, USCIS will approve your H1B Visa application and send hardcopy Form I-797 H1B approval notice. Form I-797 is the official approval notice that will serve as the proof of H1B approval. You will use I797 while appearing for Visa interview.
- If you have submitted H1B visa application through regular processing then USCIS will take 2-4 months to verify your documents and your credentials and send the H1B approval I-797.
- If you receive the I-797 H1B approval before that, you should feel lucky. So, if your H1B status shows, Case Received and pending, you got H1b Visa - Congrats. Here’s an detailed description of different ways available to check H1B visa processing times.
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THANKS MR.RAGHURAM..
THE CURRENT STATUS OF MY H1B VISA SHOWS “REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE SENT”,WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?
My H-1 case is pending. Most of the applications from my employer are rejected. Is there any way I can transfer my petition to other employer.
Thanks
Nagesh
I got my approval notice .. but the online status says “case received and Pending” wat does tat mean..
Mine is still pending..I don’t know wiht your case..,
Hiii…My H1B was picked on May 6th still it shows “Case received and pending” what does it mean its almost 5 months will I get an Approval or not?
Kindly assist
Even my case was picked in lottery around mid May, and its still pending. Ask your employer whether he/she has received any communication.
Some times it can still be pending…while a approval/decline notice sent.
Other than waiting we have any option.
Thanks..checked with employer they said they havnt received any update
I got H1B receipt number in the 2nd week of May and still my status is “Case received and Pending” and my employer got no approval or decline forms. Its already second week of October ….. when can I expect the approval papers or the change of status to Approved..?..or..only waiting is the solution..?