UNITED STATES: USCIS to Resume Premium Processing for Certain Pending H-1B Petitions

February 19, 2019


US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, on 19 February 2019, it will resume premium processing for pending H-1B petition filed on or before 21 December 2018.

Premium processing for FY 2019 H-1B cap petitions was suspended effective 2 April 2018, and the suspension was later extended and expanded. On 28 January 2019, USCIS resumed premium processing for all fiscal year (FY) 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions.

USCIS plans to resume premium processing for the remaining categories of H 1B petitions as agency workloads permit.

What is Premium Processing?

The premium processing service permits employers to request USCIS to adjudicate H-1B petitions within 15 calendar days by submitting Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing Service) and an additional filing fee of USD 1410. If USCIS does not take certain adjudicative action within the 15 calendar day processing time, USCIS refunds the petitioner’s premium processing service fee and continues with expedited processing of the petition.

Our Advice

Employers who may be affected are encouraged to contact their Newland Chase immigration specialist for further support.

For general advice and information on immigration and business travel to the USA, please contact us.