USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions
The USCIS announced it would accept H-1B petitions for premium processing again as of March 12, 2019. On February 19, 2019, premium processing became available for H-1B petitions filed before December 21, 2018. Now applicants may upgrade all H-1B petitions to premium processing. Applicants that have questions or require assistance with an H-1B petition can contact a immigration attorney.
For petitions that have a Request for Further Evidence (RFE) pending, applicants can submit a request for premium processing and the required fee when they submit a response to the RFE. The fee for premium processing is $1,410. The premium processing fee is in addition to other filing fees required to be paid with a petition or application.
What is the Premium Processing Service for H-1B Petitions?
The Premium Processing Service can assist employers who need expedited processing of employment-based applications and petitions. Premium processing guarantees a 15 calendar day turnaround. If the USCIS fails to process the petition or application within 15 calendar days, the premium processing fee is refunded in full, but the case continues under expedited processing.
The 15-day expedited processing period begins when the USCIS receives a completed Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing) and the premium processing fee at the address designated on the form. The applicant should receive a response from the USCIS within 15 days. If additional evidence is required, a new 15 day period will begin when the USCIS receives your response to its request. If the response is not complete, the time period may not begin again.
Important Information Regarding Transferred H-1B Petitions
For applicants who received a notice of transfer after filing their H-1B petitions, they must submit the request for premium processing to the correct service center that received the transferred H-1B petition. To reduce the risk of unnecessary delays in processing, applicants should include a copy of the notice of transfer with the request for premium processing.
Requests for premium processing of transferred H-1B petitions forwarded to the main address for Form I-907s will be forwarded to the correct service center by the USCIS. However, the 15 calendar day period does not begin until the correct service center receives the request for premium processing.
If the Nebraska Service Center is now handling your petition, the mailing address for USPS is USCIS Nebraska Service Center, Post Office Box 87129, Lincoln, NE 68501-7129. For overnight service by UPS, FedEx, or DHL the address is USCIS Nebraska Service Center, 850 S Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.
If the Vermont Service Center is now handling your petition, the mailing address for USPS, DHL, UPS, and FedEx is USCIS Vermont Service Center, Attn: I-129 H-1B, 30 Houghton Street, St. Albans, VT 05478-2399.
Contact an Immigration Attorney if You Have Questions
We continue to monitor changes in current immigration procedures. Procedures for procession immigration forms and petitions can change very quickly. It is a good idea to check with one of our immigration law attorneys before filing your forms to ensure that you comply with current regulations. Failure to follow current procedures can result in unnecessary delays and denials.
Posted in: Immigration Law