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ARTICLE · 11 OCTOBER 2017

Premium Processing Resumes For All H-1B Petitions

Seyfarth Shaw LLP
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On October 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately it would resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions.

United StatesImmigration
Jason Burritt
Jason Burritt
Michelle Gergerian
Michelle Gergerian
Brian Potter
Brian Potter
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Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately it would resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions.

USCIS temporarily suspended premium processing of all H-1B petitions on April 1, 2017 with the stated goal of addressing significant backlogs in case processing.  Over the last few months, the agency incrementally reinstated the premium processing service for certain lower-volume H-1B filings. Yesterday, USCIS announced that premium processing is now available for all H-1B filings, including petitions requesting a change of employer and/or extension of stay. 

When a petition is filed under premium processing, the petitioner includes an additional filing fee of $1,225.  This additional filing fee requires USCIS to adjudicate the petition within 15 calendar days of receiving the request.  USCIS either approves the petition or issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) within that 15 calendar

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