USCIS has resumed PremiumProcessing Service (PPS) for H-1B cap-subject petitions. Presently, H-1B cap-subject petitions, H-1Bsfor cap-exempt employers (e.g. research entities and universities), and H-1Bsfor doctors are the only H-1B petitions that may use PPS. H-1B transfers, amendments, and extensionscurrently are prohibited from PPS.
USCIS’press release said that it “plans to resume premium processing for allother remaining H‑1B petitions (i.e. H-1B transfers, amendments, and extensions)not subject to the FY 2018 cap, as agency workloads permit.” The press release did not commit to a timeframe for the resumption of PPS for these types of H-1B petitions. However, in a June2017 AILA Q & A, USCIS HQ indicated that it “anticipates” resuming H-1BPPS processing on or before October 4. This comment did not delineate between H-1B cap petitions and othertypes of H-1B petitions, such as transfers, amendments, and extensions.
The USCIS may have decided to prioritizeH-1B cap-subject petitions in order to allow some F-1/OPT students to continue towork without work authorization beyond October 1. Certain F-1/OPT students’ will lose work authorizingon October 1 if their H-1B cap-subject petition is not approved before October1. Please check with your MU attorney orstaff member if you have questions.