USCIS Reinstates Premium Processing Option for H-1Bs for Certain Nonprofit and Educational Institution Petitioners

By Karlie Dunsky - Franczek Radelet P.C.

July 25, 2017

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced yesterday that it will now accept requests for premium processing services for H-1B petitions filed by petitioning employers that fit into any of the following categories:

• institutes of higher education
• nonprofits related to or affiliated with an institution of higher education
• nonprofit research or governmental research organizations

This is the second wave USCIS has announced for reintroducing premium processing for H-1B petitions, since it suspended the service on April 3, 2017. One month ago, USCIS began accepting applications for premium processing of applications for medical doctors filing under the Conrad 30 Waiver program and through interested government agency waivers.

USCIS anticipates continuing to add to the categories of H-1B petitions eligible for premium processing during this Summer and Fall. We will continue keep you posted as additional groups are reinstated this year.