H-1B status decoder and I-129 timeline guide.

Bring each H-1B update from your USCIS account to GreenLight for a plain-English explanation. Use the premium-processing and cap-gap guides for context. Saved I-129 timeline tracking is not currently supported.

Remove receipt numbers before pasting; GreenLight does not store them.
See Community Pulse for supported saved-case forms →

What is H-1B?

H-1B is a nonimmigrant classification for qualifying specialty-occupation work. The employer, not the beneficiary, files Form I-129 with USCIS. Congress sets a regular cap of up to 65,000 initial H-1B numbers and an additional exemption of up to 20,000 for beneficiaries with a qualifying U.S. advanced degree. Other statutory cap exemptions can apply, but the employer, role, and petition must meet the current rules.

For registrations submitted on or after February 27, 2026, an oversubscribed cap selection is computer-generated and wage-weighted. A unique beneficiary is entered one, two, three, or four times in each applicable draw based on the submitted OEWS wage level; selection still does not prove petition eligibility. A selected petitioner may file Form I-129 during the filing period on the selection notice, with a corresponding Labor Condition Application and the required evidence. The petition and approval notice control the requested classification, validity dates, and any change of status.

If USCIS accepts the I-129 filing, the receipt notice and USCIS account provide the case number and filing details. Later public messages may report a mailed notice, an evidence request, another adjudicative action, or a decision; they do not prove a universal sequence. Bring the exact message from the USCIS account to GreenLight for a plain-English explanation. GreenLight does not check USCIS automatically, and saved I-129 timeline tracking is not currently supported.

I-129 H-1B status reference

Timing source: Regular processing: use the official USCIS selector for the exact classification and office. Eligible I-129 premium processing uses 15 business days.

1
Petition prepared and filed

The employer files Form I-129 with the classification-specific evidence. For an H-1B cap-subject petition, the filing must be based on a valid selected registration and follow the filing window and instructions in the USCIS selection notice.

For cap-subject H-1B, follow the current USCIS registration and filing notices
2
Receipt notice (Form I-797C)

USCIS issues a receipt notice with the case number. Follow the USCIS account and mailed notice for case-specific receipt information.

Receipt timing varies; the USCIS account and mailed notice control
3
Adjudication

USCIS reviews the petition and may issue a Request for Evidence. For an eligible I-129 premium request, USCIS must take qualifying adjudicative action within 15 business days; that does not guarantee approval.

Regular: official USCIS selector · Eligible premium: 15 business days
4
Decision

USCIS issues a decision notice. An approval with a replacement I-94 and an approval marked for consular notification have different status effects; the notice, I-94, requested classification, and any later visa or admission requirements control.

The decision notice controls the result and next steps

Status messages H-1B applicants commonly see

These are public status messages an H-1B petitioner or beneficiary may encounter; a real case may skip steps or include others. Click a status to see what its wording establishes and what remains unknown.

Case Was Received →Request For Additional Evidence →Case Was Approved →

Frequently asked questions about H-1B

How long does I-129 take in 2026?+
Use the official I-129 processing-time tool for the exact classification and office. Eligible Form I-907 requests use a category-specific adjudicative-action period; premium processing does not guarantee approval.
What is premium processing for H-1B?+
Premium processing is an optional $2,965 service that requires qualifying adjudicative action on an eligible I-129 within 15 business days. That action may be an approval, denial, RFE, NOID, or other qualifying response; it is not guaranteed approval. You file Form I-907 alongside or after I-129.
Can I work while my I-129 is pending?+
A pending I-129 does not by itself authorize employment. A same-employer extension, H-1B portability filing, or F-1 cap-gap may provide a separate basis only when every classification, filing, timing, and document condition is met. Confirm the exact basis with the petitioner or qualified counsel before working.
What happens if my I-129 is denied?+
The denial notice controls the result, any motion or appeal option, and its deadline. The effect on work authorization or status depends on the requested action and any separate current authorization; the employer and qualified counsel should review the notice promptly rather than assuming prior status continues or that departure is automatically required.
How do I check my I-129 status?+
Use the receipt number only in the official USCIS account or Case Status Online. You can paste the public status wording—not the receipt number—into GreenLight for a plain-English explanation. GreenLight does not predict the next event or outcome.
See an example timeline →
See a fictional H-1B I-129 sequence with fixed dates and plain-English status explanations. It is not a premium-processing benchmark.
→
Planning for the cap lottery? Check the free H-1B odds guide
Understand the current selection process before deciding whether the not-selected playbook is relevant to you.
→
Not selected in the H-1B lottery? See your options
A plain-English playbook of realistic next steps: staying on OPT, cap-exempt employers, alternative statuses, and more. First card free, full playbook $29 once.
→
Coming from OPT? Track your I-765 here
Use the I-765 guide for a separate OPT or STEM OPT filing. Cap-gap is not requested through a new I-765.
→

Decode an H-1B update

Paste the USCIS status message from your I-129 case and GreenLight will explain it in plain English, for free, with no account needed. GreenLight does not check USCIS automatically, and saved I-129 timelines are not currently supported.

GreenLight is an independent tool and is NOT affiliated with USCIS, DHS, or any U.S. government agency. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation. uscis.gov/i-129