United States – USCIS Suspends Premium Processing for H-1B Cap-Subject Filings
U.S. – USCIS Suspends Premium Processing for H-1B
This report covers the suspension by U.S. immigration authorities of the premium processing service for H-1B cap petitions until September 10, 2018.
Effective April 2, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is temporarily suspending premium processing for H-1B cap petitions until September 10, 2018.1 This suspension applies only to H-1B cap-subject petitions filed for the 2019 fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2018. Other types of H-1B petitions including extensions, change of employer, and amendments, remain eligible for premium processing at this time. Petitioners filing other types of employment-based USCIS petitions such as L-1, O-1, and TN petitions among others, will retain the option of using premium processing.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Starting April 2, 2018 and until September 10, 2018, H-1B cap-subject petitioners will be unable to file a Request for Premium Processing Service. During this temporary suspension, USCIS will reject any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, filed with an FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petition.
- This could pose an inconvenience for employers and H-1B beneficiaries, potentially affecting some H-1B cap-subject beneficiaries’ work authorization and ability to travel internationally.
- Without the premium processing option, all H-1B cap-subject cases will take longer to process and for the lottery results to be released.
- With this delay in notification whether an H-1B petition is selected there may uncertainty especially for H-1B beneficiaries who have post-graduation or STEM EADs expiring in late April or May.
An H-1B beneficiary who travels internationally while a change of status is still pending will be deemed to have abandoned the request for a change of status (although the underlying H-1B petition remains approvable). Therefore, for those cap-subject H-1B beneficiaries without another underlying nonimmigrant visa (“NIV”) process, please note:
- Such individuals’ ability to travel internationally between April 2 and September 10 (and beyond) may be delayed.
- H-1B beneficiaries with a change of status request who travel abroad before the change of status is approved would have to take additional steps to assume H-1B status on October 1, and will nonetheless need to await H-1B petition approval prior to being eligible to return to the United States.
As last year, it is anticipated that there will be longer processing times for all H-1B cap petitions. With Premium Processing only resuming in September, it is possible that H-1B beneficiaries working under the H-1 “cap gap” provisions may experience a gap in work authorization if the underlying H-1B is not adjudicated favorably prior to October 1, 2018.
Context
Last year, USCIS had also suspended Premium Processing Service.2 Prior to last year, after the H-1B cap lottery was conducted early in April, premium processing cases were issued receipt notices first (via e-mail) typically by late April. This year (as with last year) with no Premium Processing Service available, H-1B cap applicants may need to wait until May or June to find out if their case has been selected for adjudication under the H-1B lottery.
As for this year’s H-1B cap, USCIS has stated3 by way of rationale for this development that:
This temporary suspension will help us reduce overall H-1B processing times. By temporarily suspending premium processing, we will be able to:
Process long-pending petitions, which we have currently been unable to process due to the high volume of incoming petitions and the significant surge in premium processing requests over the past few years; and
Prioritize adjudication of H-1B extension of status cases that are nearing the 240 day mark.
Potential for “Expedited Processing” in Lieu of Premium Processing
The government has retained the option to have a FY 2019 cap subject H-1B petition be granted “expedited” review based on a set of criteria. According to USCIS, petitioners may submit a request to expedite an H-1B petition if they meet any of the “expedite” criteria (see https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria).
USCIS will expect the petitioner to demonstrate that he/she/it meets at least one of the criteria and such request should be documented and supported by evidence. USCIS warns that the decision to expedite a case is discretionary and made on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, it may be difficult to satisfy the expedite criteria for a benefit that, even if expedited, cannot go into effect until October 1, 2018.
KPMG NOTE
KPMG Law LLP in Canada will continue to monitor the situation, and will endeavor to keep GMS Flash Alert readers informed as developments occur.
FOOTNOTES
1 See ”USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions” (March 20, 2018) on the USCIS website.
2 For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2017-146 (October 4, 2017).
3 See ”USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions” (March 20, 2018) on the USCIS website.
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
RELATED LINKS
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Canada.
© 2024 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.