On September 18, 2017, USCIS announced the resumption of Premium
Processing for Fiscal Year 2018 ("FY2018") H-1B Cap
Petitions, effective immediately. These Petitions, which must have
arrived at USCIS between April 3 -7, 2017, include the 65,000 H-1Bs
selected in the Regular Cap, and the additional 20,000 selected in
the U.S. Master's Cap.
Premium
Processing binds USCIS to render a decision on the filing
within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt, or else the Service
will return the Premium Processing fee of $1,225.00. In addition to
a faster decision, Premium Processing also affords practitioners
the ability to communicate directly with officers at the Service
Center adjudicating the case, instead of a National Customer Service Center
representative. As with other H-1B Petitions, Cap-Subject Petitions
may be upgraded to Premium Processing while they remain pending,
even if they are subject to a Request for Evidence.