USCIS Will Extend and Expand Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions

29 Aug USCIS Will Extend and Expand Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions

USCIS announced yesterday that it will continue the suspension of premium processing for H-1B cap-subject petitions and will also be adding other types of H-1B petitions to the suspension. It was previously expected that cap cases would be able to convert to premium processing on September 11, 2018. USCIS now expects the suspension to last until February 19, 2019.

Furthermore, starting September 11, 2018, H-1B change of employer requests, H-1B amendment petitions and other types of H-1B petitions will not be permitted to request premium processing.

USCIS says that this suspension will assist in reducing overall H-1B processing times by enabling it to:

• Process long-pending petitions;

• Be responsive to petitions with time-sensitive start dates; and

• Prioritize the adjudication of cases that are nearing the 240-day mark.