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UNITED STATES: USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions
March 10, 2017
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, in order to reduce overall H-1B processing times, they will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions starting 3rd April 2017. This suspension of premium processing applies to all regular-cap and master’s-advanced-degree-cap petitions, as well as to cap-exempt H-1B petitions.
Last year, in response to “historical premium processing receipt levels and the possibility that the H-1B Cap would be met within the first 5 days of the filing season”, USCIS suspended premium processing of cap-subject H-1B petitions until 12th May 2016.
USCIS did not state when the temporary suspension will end, but indicated that it could be suspended for up to six months and the public will be notified before they resume premium processing for H-1B petitions.
The premium processing service permits employers to request USCIS to adjudicate H-1B petitions within 15 calendar days by submitting Form I-907, a Request for Premium Processing Service and an additional filing fee of $1225.
Our advice
H-1B petitions via premium processing should be made as soon as possible, and at any rate before 3rd April 2017.
If you require any additional information regarding the above please contact a member of our team at [email protected].
