USCIS has announced that premium processing for all H-1B petitions will be temporarily suspended for a period of up to 6 months starting on April 3, 2017.

What is Premium Processing?

Usually, H-1B petitioners (who file a Form I-129) are also able to file a Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing Service). Because employers often face substantial losses to revenue and profit if they do not have the workers they need, they are allowed to ask USCIS to speed up the application process for their employees using this form (and by paying a fee of $1,225). However, this USCIS action will suspend the premium processing service.

What other options are available?

Although Premium Processing is temporarily suspended as of April 3, H-1B petitioners will still be allowed to request “expedited processing” if they can demonstrate that thatone or more of the USCIS Expedite Criteriahave been met:

• Severe financial loss to company or ​person​; ​
• Emergency situation; ​
• Humanitarian reasons; ​
• Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States​; ​
• Department of Defense or ​n​ational ​i​nterest ​s​ituation (These particular expedite requests must come from an official U.S. government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to the government.); ​
• USCIS error;
• or​ Compelling interest of USCIS.

Contact Zhang and Associates to determine whether you are eligible for expedited processing.

Why has USCIS taken this action?

USCIS is experiencing a backlog in petitions that they are unable to process due to high volume and a surge in premium processing requests. With the temporary suspension, they hope to be able to better address the needs of H-1B petitioners.

This suspension applies to H-1B petitioners only and not to the other nonimmigrant workers filing an I-129.

Zhang and Associates strives to provide you with the most up to date information about immigration law. If you have any questions about this USCIS action or any other immigration related queries, please feel free to contact us at info@hooyou.com.

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Founded in 1996, Zhang & Associates, P.C. offers legal services to clients nationwide in all aspects of U.S immigration law. We have successfully handled thousands of immigration cases.

At Zhang & Associates, P.C., our attorneys and supporting professionals are committed to providing high-quality immigration and non-immigration visa services. We specialize in NIW, EB-1, PERM, and I-485 cases. In the past twenty years, we have successfully helped thousands of clients get green cards. If you plan to apply for a green card, please send your CV to Attorney Jerry Zhang (info@hooyou.com) for a free evaluation.

Zhang & Associates, P.C.

Silicon Valley • New York • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Austin • Seattle • Madison

Tel:	1-800-230-7040, 713-771-8433
Email:	info@hooyou.com
website:	http://www.hooyou.com

 

(03/06/2017)