On 3/16/2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the temporary suspension of premium processing for fiscal year (FY) 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions.

Petitioners filing FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions will not be able to request premium processing when USCIS begins accepting cap-subject petitions on April 1. 

As USCIS has done in the past, premium processing will resume in a two-phased approach during the FY2021 cap season so that USCIS can best manage premium processing requests. The first phase will include FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption,  requesting a change of status from F-1 status. Premium processing for the first phase will resume  no later than May 27, 2020.

The second phase will include all other FY2021 cap-subject petitions. This temporary suspension is similar to last year's suspension and will help us to reduce overall H-1B processing times.   Premium processing for the second phase will resume no later than June 29, 2020.

At this time, premium processing remains available for H-1B petitions that are exempt from the cap, such as amendments, change of employer and extension of stay requests .

Only company representatives are receiving this immigration alert.  Please feel free to share with your non-immigrant staff as you see fit.