According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it will be begin premium processing for FY 2020 cap-subject H-1B petitions requesting a change in status and filed with a Form I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service. Therefore, even petitions submitted prior to that date will have their 15-day processing period delayed until May 20. 2019.
This move by USCIS reportedly is designed to keep premium processing in place by phasing it in, rather than suspending as it has in previous years. The agency also reported that it was striving to maintain efficiency despite its phased-in approach. As a result, premium processing for all other FY 2020 cap-subject petitions (those that do not request a change in status) will not begin until at least June 2019. These petitions include requests for consular processing. However, premium processing of H-1B petitions exempt from the cap remains available.
In this press release, USCIS also announced that it would be suspending its usage of pre-paid mailers to send out final notices for premium processing for FY 2020 cap-subject H-1B petitions that are requesting a change in status. This suspension will take place from May 20, 2019, until June 3, 2019. This move allows USCIS to issue completely automated notices and thereby further increase efficiency. USCIS also announced its intention to follow a similar suspension of using pre-paid mailers when it begins to process all other FY 2020 cap-subject petitions. In fact, although the agency intends to resume use of the pre-paid mailers, it stated that it would only do so if feasible. Whatever your situation may be, you will need skilled legal assistance to work toward a resolution of your immigration law matter. The Texas immigration attorneys of Peek Law Group know how to help you navigate through the maze of immigration forms, regulations, and policies, and get the relief that you need. Take the first step today and secure the future of your family in the U.S. Contact our office today at and set up an evaluation with one of our highly skilled Texas immigration lawyers.