On September 18, 2017, USCIS resumed premium processing for all H-1B visa petitions that are subject to the FY2018 annual cap. The expedited process, which for a $1,225 fee guarantees 15-day processing, had been suspended since March 31, 2017 until recently, when the service was restored for certain specific types of petitions. Yesterday’s announcement allows the conversion to premium processing of all H-1B petitions that were selected in the two H-1B lotteries held in April 2017. This is a very welcome opportunity for many, including those international students whose extended practical training employment authorization expires on September 30, 2017. Premium processing remains suspended for all but these “cap” petitions and for the previously restored Conrad 30 physician and interested government agency waiver petitions, and for petitions by certain cap-exempt organizations. While this suspension will eventually be lifted for all H-1B case types, no timetable has yet been announced.
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