Effective June 10, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow for Premium Processing service of all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed with USCIS the first week of April 2019, and selected in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 H-1B lottery.
On March 19, 2019, USCIS announced that premium processing would be available in two phases for FY 2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The first phase, which started May 20, 2019, was available only to FY 2020 H-1B petitions requesting a change of status. The second phase, which started June 10, 2019, will allow for Premium Processing service of all FY 2020 H-1B petitions, regardless of whether a petition requesting a change of status or requesting consular processing.
To opt into premium processing for an H-1B petition, the petitioner must file a Form I-907 along with the premium processing fee of $1,410. The 15-day premium processing clock begins upon receipt of the form and filing fee by USCIS.
The introduction of Premium Processing service for all FY 2020 H-1B petitions marks a significant improvement compared to FY 2019 H-1B petitions, when USCIS suspended Premium Processing service for all H-1B petitions selected in that year’s lottery, as well as H-1B Change of Employer petitions and other types of H-1B petitions. While Premium Processing is an optional service, it is sometimes needed to ensure a timely approval of a beneficiary’s H-1B petition and ensure there are no disruptions in employment authorization.
On March 19, 2019, USCIS announced that premium processing would be available in two phases for FY 2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The first phase, which started May 20, 2019, was available only to FY 2020 H-1B petitions requesting a change of status. The second phase, which started June 10, 2019, will allow for Premium Processing service of all FY 2020 H-1B petitions, regardless of whether a petition requesting a change of status or requesting consular processing.
To opt into premium processing for an H-1B petition, the petitioner must file a Form I-907 along with the premium processing fee of $1,410. The 15-day premium processing clock begins upon receipt of the form and filing fee by USCIS.
The introduction of Premium Processing service for all FY 2020 H-1B petitions marks a significant improvement compared to FY 2019 H-1B petitions, when USCIS suspended Premium Processing service for all H-1B petitions selected in that year’s lottery, as well as H-1B Change of Employer petitions and other types of H-1B petitions. While Premium Processing is an optional service, it is sometimes needed to ensure a timely approval of a beneficiary’s H-1B petition and ensure there are no disruptions in employment authorization.