Starting April 2, 2018, USCIS will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 cap. USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all FY 2019 cap-subject petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. This suspension is expected to last until Sept. 10, 2018. During this time, they will continue to accept premium processing requests for H-1B petitions that are not subject to the FY 2019 cap. The public will be notified before they resume premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions or making any other premium processing updates.
During this temporary suspension, USCIS will reject any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, filed with an FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petition. If a petitioner submits one combined check for the fees for Form I-907 and Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, they will reject both forms. When premium processing resumes, petitioners may file a Form I-907 for FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petitions that remain pending. For additional details and explanatory information visit the USCIS web site here.
If you have any questions in connection with the foregoing, please contact our firm’s Immigration Law Group at (973) 602-3455.