USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for H-1B Extensions

USCIS has announced that, as of July 13, 2015, it will resume "premium processing" of H-1B extension petitions.

We previously alerted our readers that USCIS had suspended the "premium processing" service for H-1B extensions on May 26, 2015, so that the agency could efficiently implement the H-4 Work Authorization (EAD) rule.

The premium processing suspension was initially scheduled to last through July 27, 2015. However, USCIS received fewer H-4 Work Authorization applications than expected and has determined that it can effectively handle the current H-4 EAD and premium processing workload.

With this announcement, premium processing requests for H-1B petitions requesting an extension of stay for the H-1B worker may be filed concurrently with any petition filed on or after July 13, 2015.

Additionally, employers who filed H-1B extension petitions during the suspension period may "upgrade" those petitions to premium processing as of July 13, 2015.

As always, please contact us with any questions.