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ARTICLE · 20 MARCH 2017

USCIS To Suspend Premium Processing Of H-1B Petitions

Miles & Stockbridge
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On Friday, March 3, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that starting on April 3, 2017, it will temporarily suspend "premium processing" for H-1B petitions.

United StatesImmigration
Sufen Zhang
Sufen Zhang

Another week brings another unexpected new development in the world of immigration. On Friday, March 3, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that starting on April 3, 2017, it will temporarily suspend "premium processing" for H-1B petitions. By way of background, premium processing is a service USCIS offers for certain employment-based visa petitions. For an additional filing fee of $1,225, USCIS guarantees 15 calendar day processing and will issue an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, or a request for evidence within the 15 calendar day period. Though unusual, this temporary suspension of premium processing is not unprecedented. For example, in 2015, USCIS suspended premium processing for certain categories of H-1B petitions for two months to allow the agency to implement the H-4 work authorization rule and adjudicate such applications.

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