DO NOT FILE ANY CAP-SUBJECT H-1B IN PREMIUM PROCESSING!
Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS is temporarily suspending premium processing for ALLH-1B petitions. This suspension may last up to 6 months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification.
The temporary suspension applies to all H-1B petitions filed on or after April 3, 2017. Therefore, this suspension will apply to all petitions filed for the FY18 H-1B regular cap and master’s cap lottery filings.
While premium processing is suspended, USCIS will reject any Form I-907 filed with an H-1B petition. If the petitioner submits one combined check for both the Form I-907 and Form I-129 H-1B fees, they will reject both forms.
USCIS will continue to premium process Form I-129 H-1B petitions if the petitioner properly filed an I-907 before April 3, 2017. For these cases, if USCIS does not take adjudicative action on the case within the 15-calendar-day processing period, they will issue a refund.
While premium processing is suspended, you must meet the normal expedite criteria in order to obtain faster processing.
According to USCIS, the temporary suspension will help reduce overall H-1B processing times. By temporarily suspending premium processing, USCIS plans to process long-pending petitions, which we have currently been unable to process due to the high volume of incoming petitions and the significant surge in premium processing requests over the past few years; and prioritize adjudication of H-1B extension of status cases that are nearing the 240 day mark.
This will create a huge burden for H-1B workers on their ability to travel and ability to obtain driver license renewals. Plan ahead and file your extensions as early as possible given this situation!