‘My H-1B approved but stuck in a 34-month queue’, Attorney shares legal fixes for missing form I-824

When the H-1B approval came through, it should have been the end of a long process. The lottery had worked. The petition had been filed correctly. USCIS had approved it. But the approval notice never arrived.

Arizona based Ravi (name changed) was selected in the H-1B lottery for the 2025 fiscal year. His attorney had filed the petition on May 31, 2025. By July 27, USCIS had updated the case status to “Approved.” The system showed it clearly. What never showed up was the physical approval notice — Form I-797. Neither the applicant nor the employer received it.