Expedited Processing Halted for H-1Bs
Beginning on April 3, 2017, H-1B petitioners will not be able to file for premium processing. The suspension affects all H-1B petitions filed on or after this date, including petitions filed for the regular cap, the master’s advanced degree cap exemption, and petitions that may be cap-exempt.
Currently, if a petitioner files Form I-907 and pays the premium processing fee, the petition will be adjudicated within 15 days.
After April 3rd, the only way for H-1B petitions to be expedited is if a petitioner demonstrates he/she meets at least one of the following criteria:
Humanitarian reasons;
Emergency situation;
Severe financial loss to a company or individual; or
National interest concerns.
USCIS reports the suspension may last up to 6 months, until approximately October 2017, and is part of its effort to prioritize adjudication of H-1B extension of status cases nearing the 240-day mark and to process long-pending H-1B petitions.
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