Starting May 26, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B extension petitions until July 27, 2015. During this time frame, petitioners will not be able to file an extension of the stay for an H-1B nonimmigrant under the premium processing program. USCIS will continue to premium process H-1B extension petitions filed prior to May 26, 2015. USCIS will refund the premium processing fee if:
- A petitioner filed H-1B petitions prior to May 26, 2015, using the premium processing service, and
- USCIS did not act on the case within the 15-calendar-day period.
Premium processing remains available for all other Form I-129 H-1B petitions, including petitions subject to the H-1B cap that are requesting a change of nonimmigrant status or consular notification. This temporary suspension will allow USCIS to implement the “Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Spouses” final rule in a timely manner and adjudicate applications for employment authorization filed by H-4 applicants under the new regulations.
