After Getting Selected for H-1B
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      1. The White Paper for F1 Students
      2. H-1B
      3. After Getting Selected for H-1B

      How to Check Your H-1B Application Status?

      This article guides you on how to quickly check whether your employer has submitted the application on your behalf.

      Large companies usually have in-house lawyers to handle H-1B applications. After preparing the required documents, the employer will submit the completed Form I-129 to USCIS. If submitted online, the Receipt Notice will be issued on the same day or the next. For mail submissions, it may take a few days to receive the notice. The Receipt Notice contains a Receipt Number that starts with "IOE." Both the employer and employee can use this number to track the application status. If you are concerned that your company has not submitted your application on time, follow these steps to check your H-1B application status:

       

      Check Your Case Status on the USCIS Website

      Once you receive an email confirmation of submission from USCIS, you can use the Receipt Number to check your case status on the USCIS website. You will see one of the following results:

      • Invalid Receipt Number (The case status has not been updated yet. Try checking again in a few days)

      • Case was Received

      • Case was Approved

      • Request for Additional Evidence Notice was Sent (This is an RFE, which means additional documents are required. Don't panic; contact your company and lawyer to prepare the necessary documents)

      • Response to USCIS's Request for Evidence was Received(Your response to the RFE has been received)

      • Case was Denied (Your application was denied)

      At this stage, you do not need to create an account to check the status. If you want to receive timely updates via email and text, you can subscribe to USCIS case updates, though this requires having a USCIS account.


      How to Create a USCIS Account:

      1. Select "Create New Account" to set up an account.

      2. After logging in, enter the Receipt Number in the "Add a Paper-Filed Case" section to check the application status.

      3. You can also enable "Case Inactivity Notifications" to receive updates on your case status, which is very convenient.

      Check Your Case Status on the App

      Download the "USCIS Case Tracker" app on your phone. After opening the app, enter your Receipt Number and enable notifications to receive real-time updates on your case status on your phone.

      Cautions:

      • Submit your application as early as possible. Provide all necessary documents promptly and maintain communication with your HR department and legal team, urging them to submit the application by mid-June at the latest. This leaves time to correct any unforeseen issues. Moreover, submitting early also increases the likelihood of receiving the Approval Notice before October 1.
      • Processing times for H-1B applications can vary widely depending on the service center and individual circumstances, sometimes taking over three months. If your situation is urgent, you can use premium processing, which guarantees a decision within 15 days for a fee of $2,805.
      • Case Example: A company submitted Form I-129 online on June 25. After the payment, the system showed "Successfully Submitted." However, the payment failed, and USCIS issued a Rejection Notice on June 28. Since that was the last working day of the month, the company did not receive the notice until early July, missing the June 30 deadline for submitting H-1B application. As a result, the employee lost their H-1B eligibility for that year.