Consistent with our advisory from late August, as of today, September 11, 2018, USCIS will no longer accept Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions unless said Petitions are:

  • Statutorily cap-exempt; or
  • Filed with the Nebraska Service Center and requesting a continuation of previously approved employment without change (for both internal extensions and consular notification).

USCIS suspension of Premium Processing for all other H-1B filings – including Petitions subjected to the Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap, H-1B Portability Petitions (i.e. transfers), Amended H-1B Petitions, filings for new H-1B Employment, and even H-1B Petitions noting a nonmaterial change to previously approved employment – is now in effect. The suspension is expected to last through at least February 19, 2019.

Moreover, beginning on October 1, 2018 the filing fee for Premium Processing will increase to $1,410.00. The new fee. which represents a nearly 15-percent-hike, will apply to all cases that are eligible for Premium Processing, including the above-listed exceptions to the H-1B suspension.

If you would like our Firm's services for any and all matters related to H-1B Premium Processing, please do not hesitate to contact our office.


The Business of Cannabis: A Roundtable Discussion on Immigration Issues and Access to the U.S.

As of October 17th, 2018, buying, selling, possessing, using recreational cannabis and taking part in the business of selling it will be legal in Canada. How does this affect Canadians who are involved in the newly emerging cannabis space who want to visit the United States? While 9 American states have legalized cannabis for recreational use, it is still a criminal activity in the vast majority of states and under the U.S.'s Immigration and Nationality Act.

Register here

Join U.S. attorneys Jonathan Grode, Tim Golden and Evan Green for a Roundtable discussion on Canadians, Cannabis and Entry to the U.S. and we'll let you know where things stand today.


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