H1B Visa Questions & Answers – 1
By HSB
Most of the comments in last few days were about H1B Visa Lottery Results and about RFE response deadline. Yesterday I started writing about US Universities Q&A and thought this will be good way to answers some of the questions from H1B Visa related comments.
Rasesh Asks
My wife is here on H4. I filed her H1B, got selected in lottery. Now she got RFE..Info requested was some company info and my latest paystubs..we got RFE on date 25th Jul 2008. we asked employer, he forwarded the courier details sent to VSC. its sent on 19th Aug…but her status is still same as previous one. Do you have any idea , about this…as for this already replied…any guesses about time frame…to get approval…i really appriciate you reply…thanks..
I guess you missed the update from USCIS about remaining H1B Visa petitions processing status. You can read about H1B Visa approval deadline and processing update from USCIS.
Rahul Asks
Can you please tell me how can we actually track the processing based on processing dates. How can we get to know when will our series start processing ? My receipt number is of the series EAC08151XXXXX
You will have to know which service center your H1B Visa peition was submitted to. Here’s how you can find
- EAC – It is being processed at the Vermont Service Center
- WAC – It is being processed at the California Service Center
- LIN – It is being processed at the Nebraska Service Center
- SRC – It is being processed at the Texas Service Center
If you go to USCIS Case Status Online and look for Vermont Center Processing time. From your receipt, you can see when application was submitted and compare that date to date displayed in processing time for Vermont center. But, read the link from Rashes response.
Prakash asks
Do USCIS ask for photograph in RFE ? In my case they have asked for photograph.This is told to be by my employer.Any one ever asked for photograph in RFE.I got my RFE request on Sep 19. And my employer is not giving my case number as well.How long will it take for RFE to process.
You are the first person to ask about photograph for RFE. But again its USCIS. We don’t have nay say on what they ask. They will be tryin to verify some information. If your employer is not giving you the receipt number, then there is no way you can track the H1b visa petition status. Do read the update from USICS.
Jatanthi Asks
My application got “APPROVED” status on June4th but till date I havenot received any documents. Whenever I call up my consultancy, they say that I will get them but havent see anything tilll now. Bit frustrating and worried now. Is it possible that we have such cases where there is a delay in sending the documents.
So many comments here is about employer not sending them documents after H1B approved status. There is not much you can do about that. I would keep asking them till you get the approval letter and other related documents for your visa interview.
Related posts:
- H1B Visa Questions and Answers – 2
- Difference between EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC Receipt Number – H1B Visa
- How to check H1B Visa Status Online with EAC Receipt Number
- Now there is No H1B FY 2010 Lottery – What Next?
- 5 Reasons Why You Haven’t Received H1B Receipt Number
I was being laid-off from company A, but I asked them to give me sometime, so they sent me on a “temporary lay-off” (no paychecks) for 12 weeks (not completed yet). They are still paying for my health insurance after which I go on very very expensive COBRA.
Meanwhile, I found a job and had the H1B transferred successfully and started working. The health insurance in new company B starts after 3 months.
I didn’t inform my old company A about my new employment, to get the benefit of health insurance till it expires at end of 12 weeks.
Is this a okay thing to do? Am I messing up something like H1B, I-9, tax etc.
Please let me know.
i got approval from vermont cervice center ,but some infomation mentioned on this was rong so i send back it for correction ,almost five month has gone but i have not received it.i have received receipt number but number starts from rac xxxxxx it means it is of texas cervice center. it is possibe ?can we apply to other cervice center for correction.
Hi ,
I have applied for H1B visa on 18 Sep 2008 at US Consulate ,dubai .Officer asked for additional documents which my company already provided to them ,when contacted consulate they always response with its is in administrative process will take time how much time they do not answer on it.Is their any possibility that i will get my visa done or i have to take its as denied /refused ,but no response.
My question is will they provide refused /denied mail back to me or company ?
Thanks in advance ,appreciate your valuable feedback on this!
Hi,
I’ve applied for H1B visa at vermont centre and in August I got an RFE on which I replied at 12th Sep. But untill now I’ve hear no response from USCIS. Anyone can tell that how much time Vermont centre usaually took on RFE.
Hi,
I have a situation.
I was employed with company A with whom my H1B started in Oct07 and I went to India and got H1B stamped on passport. H1B valid until Oct2010. In last week of Oct 08 company A laid me off and I found opportunity with company B on Nov 4, 2008. An immigration attorney (not belonging to company) filed for H1B transfer which USCIS received on Nov 10. After starting to work for company B for a month, suddenly both the employer and lawyer realized that I was not supposed to work until the petition has been completely approved and that I was accumulating illegal working days, so they terminated me from payroll. The petition is still under process with USCIS.
The immigration attorney says that once the petition is approved, I will have to travel to mexico crossing the border at Tijuana and then re-enter USA with the new I-797 and employment letter such that it would bring me back on status. The attorney says that I need not go to USCIS in mexico for another visa interview as my passport has already been stamped for H1B from Oct2007-Oct2010.
Question:
Is it necessary to travel outside US as the attorney suggested to bring me back on status? It seems to me like a regular visa transfer from company A to B.
Is there a chance that I get stuck at the Tijuana border and they ask me to go to USCIS in mexico or deport me back to india?
If yes for travel, do we have to do this everytime I change companies?
Please explain.
Hi,
I got my petition letter with corrected name a week back. As informed by my employer back in US, i will be going to US only on Feb. I was wondering if i should apply for my Visa now or wait for till jan 2009. Is there any time line (6 months or a year) that i have to enter US if i get my visa approved? Please do let me know.. Thanks a lot,
Hi,
I had filed for H1-B extension in June this year.
I got my reciept notice which has a dispatch date of 1st August 08.
My H1-B visa expired on September 30th. My case status, as per the USCIS shows :
Current Status: Case recieved and Pending.
My case is at the California Service Center.
On checking the processing dates on the USCIS site for the California Service center link
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do?type=serviceCenter
it looks like my application should have been processed by now. It has been 5 months now.
I needed to plan my vacation in January due to some personal reasons. Do you think It will take that long to get an approval?
From what I have seen here, it could take that amount of time. But its USCIS, there is nothing we can do about that.
My Husband was recently layed off from his company due to their finantial problems. He has got a job now in another company and has already filed the H1-B transfer papers by a lawyer in first week of Nov 2008. The lawyer said it would take 2months from the date of application for the approval to come. And here the Adminstaff people have started harassing him saying that they want the transfer approval soon or else they may even terminate his employment. Is it right as nothing is in our hand. All is in the USCIS’s hand. So how one can harass like that?
If the new company has filed for H1B Visa, then they should have filed using premium processing. So, H1B can be approved in 3 weeks. If not they will have to talk to their lawyer. Not you.
Application Type: I129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER
Current Status: Response to request for evidence received, and case processing has resumed.
On October 21, 2008, we received your response to our request for evidence. We will notify you by mail when we make a decision or if we need something from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service. You should expect to receive a written decision or written update within 60 days of the date we received your response unless fingerprint processing or an interview are standard parts of case processing and have not yet been completed, in which case you can use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done. This case is at our VERMONT SERVICE CENTER location. Follow the link below to check processing dates. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.
hi, my h1b got approved, can any one help me out in preparing for my interview,
Hi
My H1 was picked on May 6th..Status is yet “Case received and Pending Approval”
Its already mid oct.Will I get an approval.
Why so much delay
Kindly advise
Application Type: I129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER
Current Status: REQUEST FOR INITIAL EVIDENCE SENT, CASE PLACED ON HOLD
On September 15, 2008, we mailed a notice requesting initial evidence in this case. Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the evidence requested. Meanwhile, processing of this case is on hold until we either receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once you submit the evidence requested and a decision is made, you will be notified by mail. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your mailing address.
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I provided my resume to the employer as I was asked for it as an initial evidence.
Do you have any idea when will I receive the Approval.
Hey Raghu.,,I read that article but ..i didnt understand it..can u just explain me pls..i am very much tense