USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Conrad 30 and Interested Government Agency Waiver H1B Petitions

Update (September 18, 2017): The USCIS has now resumed premium processing for all H1B petitions subject to the FY 2018 cap [see article].

Update (July 24, 2017): The USCIS resumed premium processing of certain cap-exempt H1B petitions [see article]. Premium processing for other H1B petitions remains suspended not listed in that article or this article remain suspended.

On June 23, 2017, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is resuming premium processing for two classes of H1B petitions [PDF version]. The premium processing service has been temporarily suspended for all H1B petitions since April 3, 2017 [see article].

Beginning on June 26, 2017, the USCIS will resume premium processing for all H1B petitions filed for medical doctors under the Conrad 30 Waiver program. Please see our full article to learn about the Conrad 30 Waiver program [see article].

Also beginning on June 26, 2017, the USCIS will resume premium processing for those seeking H1B status through an interested government agency waiver (where a U.S. federal government agency requests a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement for J exchange visitors).

The USCIS has not yet lifted the premium processing suspension on other H1B petitions. Accordingly, premium processing remains unavailable for all other H1B petitions until the USCIS announces otherwise.

Please note that, notwithstanding the suspension of premium processing, an H1B petitioner may submit a request for expedited processing provided that it meets one of the expedited processing criteria. Please see our full article to learn about requesting expedited processing and the expedited processing criteria [see article].

Furthermore, please see our two blog posts that explain the value of the Conrad 30 Waiver program and why Congress should move to extend it permanently [see blog] [see blog].