USCIS will begin accepting H-1B petitions that are subject to the FY 2019 cap on April 2, 2018. FY 2019 cap-subject petitions received by USCIS from April 2 to April 6, 2018 will be considered in the H-1B visa lottery. Today, USCIS announced that it has temporarily suspended premium processing for all FY 2019 cap-subject petitions. During the temporary suspension, USCIS will reject any I-907 Forms requesting premium processing service associated with FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petitions.
USCIS expects the suspension to last until September 10, 2018. FY 2019 cap-subject petitions that are still pending after September 10, 2018 may be upgraded to premium processing at that time.Premium processing will continue for H-1B petitions that are not subject to the FY 2019 cap. Such H-1B petitions include H-1B extension petitions and H-1B change of employer petitions.
USCIS explains that the temporary suspension will help the agency process long-pending petitions and reduce overall H-1B processing times.?For more frequent updates, please visit our website and follow us on?twitter (@GrahamAdairLaw).