Can I Still Apply for H1B Visa (Aug, 2009)?

It’s already August 2009 and still many are posting comments like this

I just graduated with Bachelors in Computer Engineering from a US university this august. Can i apply for the H1 B visa NOW?? Else when is the earliest to do that??

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H1B FY 2011 Process to be Redesigned by USCIS?

Immigration Lawyer through AILA are saying that USCIS is working on redesign of H-1B Visa 2011 application filing process. Not much information is available about the exact redesign, but Read more

Your case cannot be found at this time in Case Status Online

Angel @ 1400 H1B Visa Petitions Denied?

Hello! I have a problem with my receipt number given by my employer. Every time I check my status online it says “Your case can not be found at this time in Case Status Online. Please check your receipt number and try again.” I emailed my employer regarding this, and she told me that it’s natural bec. some of the applications are not updated in the USCIS online. I’m wondering with her responsed, she said the company filed my application April 1, 2009 but still no update. Anyone here has the same problem with me? thanks!

USCIS Case Status Online

You are not the only person who saw the error message – Your case can not be found at this time in Case Status Online. Please check your receipt number and try again.

Almost everyone looking at USCIS case status online seen similar errors and its due the following reason

H1B Visa Status With Receipt Number; Name Missing

USCIS Case Status Online allows the applicants to check their H 1B Visa Petition 2010 status. Employer or attorney should provide you with H1B Receipt number to check the status from USCIS Case search page. But, when you look the case status applicant name will not be displayed. Read more

Changes to New H1B Visa Bill

Yesterday I posted article about new H1B Visa bill to enforce strict hiring rules by banks and companies receiving bailout money from U.S. government. I read that few more changes were made to the final version of the bill. I’m still trying to find more information about the new changes that was added. As soon as I get the updated information, it will be posted here. Read more

Applying for H1B Visa 2009 (FY 2010) – Think Twice!

H1B Visa season is coming up in couple of months. Time for the companies to prepare the applications to file H-1B Visa. But, everyone in the world is certainly feeling the pain of U.S. Economy recession. More than 500,000 employees were laid off  in Jan 2009 alone. One of Senator has requested Microsoft to lay off H1 B workers before American workers. Read more

L1 to H1B Visa Transfer without H1B Approval Notice?

Here in Happy Schools blog, you can find some information about H1B Visa, F1 Visa and other immigration related articles. All the information here is not professional legal advise. Here was an interesting comment about L1 Visa to H1B Visa transfer without H1B approval notice documents Read more

H1B Approved 59,100; Pending Approval 9500

I saw an interesting comment about H1B Visa application approved so far and that was the last update from USCIS. Comment was to the article H1B Visas Approved Read more

H1B Visa Stamping – Required Documents

I have been trying to write about the documents required for H1B Visa Stamping. Documents listed here for your reference Read more

Can H1B Visa Holders Change Fields?

I was thinking about writing about  H1B Visa transfer and changing jobs to different field with H1B Visa article for long time, but Jenna had asked a questions about applying for H1B Visa with a job in different field, than area of study. Question was asked in the comments of  H1B Visa Questions and Answers - 1

Jenna Asks

Hi Raghu,
First of all, I have found a lot of good information from your blog!
Thank you a lot!

Second, I have some questions for you.

I am currently a senior at 4-yr university, I am graduating next June (2009).

Since it is extremely hard to find a job that is related to my major so that it would be hard for me to use OPT with the job that is related to my major.

So I wonder it is possible that I get a job that is not related to my major by this December or early next year and then apply for H-1B in April
( I kind of got an offer from the company I did internship last year, but this company has nothing to do with my major) . However, I won’t finish school until June.

Thank you a lot!!!
Jenna

Can I apply for H1B Visa?

Good to see you have found some useful information from my blog.

Its my understanding you cannot apply, reason being USCIS is getting very strict and from Jan 2009, they are going to implement new Labor verification process. But, there could be a way if you can show relationship between the job you are applying for H1B and area of study, then you can certainly apply.

H1B Visa Fraud

In last 2 weeks huge H1B Visa fraud was found, where H1B Visa was approved for some professional job ans they were working with Laundry Machines and Dry Cleaning. 51 Such Cases was found. I will post a detailed report of H1B Visa Fraud.

Changing Fields with H1B Visa

I was able to get additional information from Immigration attorney Murthy.com  newsletter about changing fields with H1B Visa. This is what they had to say

Question :

I am on an H1B. I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. My current H1B job is a computer programming position. I have an opportunity to change to an engineering position. Can I do this? Does it matter that the job descriptions for my current job and my new job are different? Will I need a cap number to change to a different type of job? I thought there was a requirement that the jobs be the same or similar.

Answer :

It is NOT necessary for the new H1B job to be similar to the current H1B job in any fashion. What is necessary is for both jobs to meet the general H1B requirements for a specialty occupation. That is, the positions must require the minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field of specialized knowledge. Of course, the foreign national beneficiary must possess the required degree or its equivalent.

Source – Murthy.com

Since Immigration Law is complicated, you will be in better position, if you can talk to an immigration attorney and get things cleared. Good Luck.

H1B Visa Questions and Answers – 2

Here second edition of Questions and Answers section for H1B Visa. If you have missed first part, here’s link to H1B Visa Questions and Answers 1.

Deepak - What does Case Received and Pending mean?

I got my approval notice .. but the online status says “case received and Pending” wat does tat mean..

It’s very interesting question. Comments was written to article that explains what Case Received and Pending means.

Nitasha From H1B Visa 2009 : Case Received and Pending

Hi Raghu,

Please let me know what does “Duplicate Notice Sent” Status means. Its been written under this status as your case is still pending and we will send you an update via email when your case is processed.

One of my friend got this as her status. Please help us know what does that actually mean.

My Case is still pending and we have observed one trend ..Maximum of the applicants whose receipt date is May 5th has their case as received and pending. Do you have any comments on this ?

Please let us know

Its my understanding that “Duplicate Notice Sent” means one of two things,

• New copy of approval notice was sent to replace a lost copy, or
• Your H1B approval notice was original notice of approval) was never received

There is no way you can observe any trend with respect to H1B approval. Infact I don’t think other than USCIS anyone will know how many receipts were sent on that day. I suggest you read the update from USCIS from H1B Q&A Part 1

Nagesh

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.

I don’t think there is any other option, since few cases that were selected in lottery is going to be rejected, because they selected extra H1B applications from lottery.

Dames From  H1B Visa 2009 : Case Received and Pending

Hello friends,

We should not worry as most of the pending cases will be cleared by mid of october. I am not sure but this was the information given by my consultant.

Be cool and have fun.

Rightly said, be cool and have fun. There’s nothing more we can do, till we hear from USCIS. Hope we get to hear some updates from USCIS.

Vidhya From What does Case Received and Pending mean?

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

Will I get approval or not – Its hard question to answer. Getting selected in lottery is luck, but getting approval is pure luck. But, only think you can do now is to wait and hope. There are chances you might get rejection too.

max From H1B Visa 2009 : Case Received and Pending

Hi Raghu

i am in advanced degree H1 quota..i think the cap is 21000…it is mentioned on this site that according to last update 19500 have been approved..and 2100 are pending. Now, 21000 – 19500 = 1500 and 2100 – 1500 =600, this leaves 600. So does this mean that, in all, 600 people who have been selected in lottery in advanced degree quota will be rejected.

Please correct me if i m wrong!

Thanks

Advanced degree cap is 20,000. So, only 500 is remaining to be approved. 2100 – 500 = 1600 will be rejected. That’s what I read from Immigration sites I had posted.

Did you Pay for H1B Visa processing?

Hello everyone, there are many readers who are following H1b Visa approval results and few are still waiting to get H1B Visa approval. I have 3 questions to you.

1) Did you pay for your H1B Visa processing?

2) How much did you pay?

3) Did you have to sign any type of contract with your employer?

I’m just curious to know how many have paid for H1B processing. Leave a comment to this article.

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