UPDATE: USCIS confirms that all H-1B petitions are again eligible for Premium Processing

October 3, 2017

Last week we received word from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that USCIS was planning to resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions by October 3rd. USCIS has now confirmed this news (see the press release below), meaning that anyone with a pending or new H-1B petition can request Premium Processing Service, so long as they submit an appropriately-completed form (Form I-907) and the USCIS I-907 filing fee fee (currently $1225). A petition filed with Premium Processing will receive either a decision or a request for evidence within 15 days of filing.

From USCIS:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing today for all H-1B visa extension of stay petitions. Premium processing is now available for all types of H-1B petitions.

H-1B visas provide skilled workers for a wide range of specialty occupations, including information technology, engineering, and mathematics. When a petitioner requests the agency’s premium processing service, USCIS guarantees a 15-calendar day processing time. If that time is not met, the agency will refund the petitioner’s premium processing service fee and continue with expedited processing of the application.

In addition to today’s resumption of premium processing for H-1B visa extension of stay petitions, USCIS had previously resumed premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap, petitions filed on behalf of physicians under the Conrad 30 waiver program, as well as interested government agency waivers and certain H-1B petitions that are not subject to the cap.

For more information on how the H-1B visa program is being used, visit the Buy American, Hire American: Putting American Workers First page. This page provides data and information about the hiring practices of employers who use H-1B visas to hire foreign workers.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and Instagram (@USCIS).

---