On May 3, 2017, the USCIS announcedthat it completedthe data entry for the 2017 (FY 2018) H-1B cap season. MU Law believes that it has received all ofthe H-1B receipts that it will receive this year. Our in-house receipt numbers mirror the overall42% receipt number.
H-1BCap Approval Notices and RFEs. Lastweek, Musillo Unkenholt received its first 2017 H-1B cap approval notices. We have also received our first 2017 H-1B capRequests for Evidence. It is unclear howlong it will take the USCIS to issue approvals and RFEs for the H-1B capcases.
H-1BReturned Petitions. MusilloUnkenholt has not yet received any returned H-1B cap-subject petitions fromUSCIS. Last year, we continued toreceive unselected petitions into August. Our hope is that the USCIS will be faster in light of the 20% decline inH-1B cap petition filings.
H-1BPremium Processing. What is alsounknown is the state of the Premium Processing Service (PPS) for H-1Bpetitions. In March the USCIS revealedthat it would be suspendingPPS for all H-1B petitions, including cap-subject, amendments, andextensions, for as long as 6 months. A 6-monthsuspension of H-1B PPS means that H-1B PPS could be suspended until October 1,2017. USCIS has made no announcement asto whether it will shorten the H-1B PPS suspension since so few H-1B cappetitions were filed.