What is the Notice of Approval?

The Notice of Approval is the official communication issued by USCIS to inform you that a petition has been approved. In the context of the H-1B, it confirms that the petition filed by the employer was found to be in order, allowing the case to move forward to the next steps.

This document is commonly identified as Form I-797. It serves as formal proof of approval and consolidates key case details, such as the petition identification, the validity period granted, and the beneficiary’s information. From this point, the process may continue with the visa application at a consulate or with a change of status inside the United States.

It is worth distinguishing between petition approval and visa issuance: receiving the Notice of Approval means the petition was evaluated favorably, but each subsequent step has its own requirements. For that reason, keep the original document safe, as it is typically required in later stages.

Since fraud schemes and forged documents circulate in immigration proceedings, always verify the authenticity of any notification directly with USCIS and, if in doubt, seek guidance from a trusted professional.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.