USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for All H-1Bs

USCIS has announced that it will resume premium processing on March 12, 2019 for all H-1B petitions.

In March 2018, USCIS suspended premium processing for H-1B petitions for new employment filed under the FY2019 H-1B cap. In September 2018, USCIS extended and expanded the suspension of premium processing to include all H-1B petitions, except only certain cap-exempt H-1B petitions and certain H-1B petitions seeking an extension without change filed with the Nebraska Service Center. In January 2019, USCIS resumed premium processing for certain long-pending cap-subject FY2019 H-1B petitions filed during the April 1, 2018 filing window and, in February 2019, restored premium processing for other H-1B petitions that had been pending since late December 2018.

USCIS has now announced that – effective March 12, 2019 – it will resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions, including all pending petitions and petitions in which the employer has filed a response to RFE. The USCIS announcement does not specifically confirm that premium processing will be available for cap-subject FY2020 H-1B petitions to be filed during the April 1, 2019 filing window, but on its face appears to signal that premium processing will be available for cap-subject FY2020 H-1Bs.

Premium processing is an optional service in which – upon filing of a properly completed Form I-907 and payment of the $1410 USCIS premium processing fee – USCIS “guarantees” to act on a petition within 15 days.