Premium Processing Suspended for Almost All H-1B Petitions Filed at The California And Vermont Service Centers Until February 2019
By: Roujin Mozaffarimehr
The USCIS announced on August 28th, 2018 that, beginning on September 11, 2018, premium processing will be suspended for all H-1B petitions filed at Both California and Vermont Service Centers (excluding cap-exempt filings). This suspension is expected to last through February 19, 2019.
The Service confirms that it will continue to accept premium processing requests for H-1B petitions received before September 11, 2018. However, the Service notes that premium processing fees for timely filed petitions will be returned if the Services does not take adjudicative action on the case within the 15-calendar day processing period. This means that there is no guarantee that cases filed before September 11th will be adjudicated with premium processing.
We note that the suspension does not apply to cases filed as extensions without change with the Nebraska Service Center. The suspension also does not apply to cap-exempt petitions based upon employment with cap-exempt employers or qualifying cap-exempt institutions, entities or organizations. Finally, the suspension does not apply to other non-immigrant classifications that require Form I-129 (L-1, O-1, TN, E-3, etc.).
Premium processing can play an essential part in sourcing employees and extending H-1B classification for current employees. Please reach out to ImmiCore Law to discuss any questions you may have about this announcement.
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