You are dealing with an unusual situation if your H-1B petition from the 2025 lottery shows approval but no paperwork arrived. The USCIS marked your case as approved in July 2025, yet neither you nor your employer received the I-797A notice.
Missing approval notice creates confusion
After the approval update, you raised a service request for non delivery of the I-797A. The USCIS rejected this request and instead advised you to apply for a duplicate approval notice.
Duplicate notice means long delay
Requesting a duplicate I-797A can take more than two years. For you, this delay feels damaging, especially when your status and employment plans depend on that single document.
Second approval email adds new twist
In January 2026, you received another approval email. The message stated that your petition stands approved and that documents will be sent shortly, reopening hope that the issue is resolving.
Link to original petition likely
This second email likely connects to your original H-1B petition. It appears the USCIS system showed approval earlier while the physical paperwork remained unprocessed.
USCIS system glitches well known
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services systems often face technical issues. These glitches can cause electronic updates and physical documents to fall out of sync for long periods.
Approval notice may finally be sent
The fresh approval email suggests that the I-797A is now prepared and possibly in transit. This development points to backend processing finally catching up with the digital record.
Track mail and verify I-94
You should monitor incoming mail using United States Postal Service Informed Delivery. You must also check your I-94 record on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
Waiting remains the only option
You will only know the outcome once the documents arrive. Until then, waiting remains your only realistic option despite the uncertainty.
