The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary suspension of its premium processing for all H1-B visas starting April 3.
While the confusion with Trump's clear-cut stand on H1-B visa still looms, the administration has announced a hostile move that will hit businesses all across, especially the Indians who receive approximately 70% of the non-immigrant visas.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday announced that it will temporarily suspend its premium processing for all H1-B petitions starting April 3. The date till when the process is suspended has still not been announced, though USCIS has stated that it may last up to six months.
While the process is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907 to request for Premium Processing Service and for Form I-129 which files a petition for a nonimmigrant worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification.
In a press release posted on Friday, USCIS stated that the temporary suspension will help the administration "reduce overall H1-B processing times." It reasoned out the move by stated that USCIS will be able to process long-pending petitions which it has been unable to process due to large number of incoming petitions. It also said it will now, "Prioritize adjudication of H-1B extension of status cases that are nearing the 240 day mark."
H1-B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies, including those from India, depend on it for hiring tens of thousands of employees each year.
Under the current system, a company who is sponsoring a potential employee or current employee’s H-1B petition may fill out a form to expedite the processing of that petition. After paying an additional $1,225 fee for this service, USCIS responds typically in 15 days, whereas standard H-1B petitions may take anywhere between three to six months to receive a judgement.
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