ARTICLE · 29 SEPTEMBER 2017

USCIS Resumes Premium Processing For 2018 H-1B Cap Cases

Littler Mendelson

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On September 18, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would resume the premium processing service for fiscal year 2018 H-1B cap cases.

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Littler Mendelson, P.C.

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On September 18, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would resume the premium processing service for fiscal year 2018 H-1B cap cases. The H-1B cap refers to the 85,000 H-1B¹ visas that were selected during the first week of April for October 1st effective dates. Premium processing refers to a service in which an additional $1,225 is paid to the USCIS so that a decision on a petition is made in 15 calendar days.

Premium processing was temporarily suspended for an initial six-month period for all H-1B cases on April 3, 2017. USCIS previously resumed premium processing for H-1B cases involving physicians that were filed under the Conrad 30 waiver program, and for H-1B petitions that were not subject to the statutory cap because the H-1B employee would be working for a cap-exempt organization.

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