H-1B premium processing suspended to handle huge rush: US

The United States (US) has temporarily suspended the premium processing of H-1B visas. H-1B visas, which are popular among Indian IT firms and professionals.

The US that gave the information about this suspension in the second week of March 2017 said the temporary ban was implemented to handle the huge rush of applications for the work visas in the first week of April.

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At the time of suspension of the H-1B premium processing, the petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, request for premium processing service, for a Form I-129, petition for a nonimmigrant worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. In the case of such H-1B petition during the period will be rejected.

As per reports, Lori Scialabba, the acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told members of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management efficiency that US will start accepting applications for H-1B work visas from 3 April 2017 for fiscal 2018.

A notification on the official website of the department of homeland security says, “All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected”.

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Scialabba informed that USCIS receives about two lakh or more H-1B applications for processing in the first week of April. She also said, once the suspension is lifted, people will be able to file for premium processing and their application will be processed within 15 days.

H-1B Program

The programme allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific speciality, or its equivalent. H-1B speciality occupations may include fields such as science, engineering and information technology.

Under the H-1B programme, US issue an H-1B visa, which is a non-immigrant visa for foreigners. These visas are provided to foreigners for being employed in US companies.