March 03, 2017

USCIS Announces Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Cases

USCIS SENT OUT THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT (3/3/2017). PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A PREMIUM PROCESSING UPGRADE TO A CURRENTLY PENDING H-1B PETITION BEFORE THE SUSPENSION TAKES EFFECT ON APRIL 3, 2017.

Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. This suspension may last up to 6 months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. We will notify the public before resuming premium processing for H-1B petitions.

Who Is Affected

The temporary suspension applies to all H-1B petitions filed on or after April 3, 2017. Since FY18 cap-subject H-1B petitions cannot be filed before April 3, 2017, this suspension will apply to all petitions filed for the FY18 H-1B regular cap and master’s advanced degree cap exemption (the “master’s cap”). The suspension also applies to petitions that may be cap-exempt.

While premium processing is suspended, we will reject any Form I-907 filed with an H-1B petition. If the petitioner submits one combined check for both the Form I-907 and Form I-129 H-1B fees, we will have to reject both forms.

We will continue to premium process Form I-129 H-1B petitions if the petitioner properly filed an associated Form I-907 before April 3, 2017. Therefore, we will refund the premium processing fee if:

1.The petitioner filed the Form I-907 for an H-1B petition before April 3, 2017, and

2.We did not take adjudicative action on the case within the 15-calendar-day processing period.

This temporary suspension of premium processing does not apply to other eligible nonimmigrant classifications filed on Form I-129.

Let’s Talk

Let us help you navigate the complexities of immigration law and work towards a positive outcome. Your immigration journey starts here.

"*" indicates required fields