Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. According to USCIS, this suspension may last up to 6 months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, 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.
The temporary suspension applies to all H-1B petitions filed on or after April 3, 2017. Since cap-subject H-1B petitions (Fiscal Year 2018) cannot be filed before April 3, 2017, this suspension will apply to all petitions filed against the H-1B regular cap and master’s advanced degree cap exemption (the “master’s cap”) for Fiscal Year 2018. The suspension also applies to petitions that may be cap-exempt.