On October 3, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) reinstated the premium processing service for all H-1B petitions, effective immediately. USCIS had temporarily suspended the premium processing program for all H-1B petitions on April 3, 2017.

Accordingly, premium processing is now available for all types of H-1B petitions, including change of employers, extension of statuses, and amendments. U.S. businesses may now elect to pay an extra $1,225 for this expedited service, which “guarantees” processing of petitions within 15 calendar days of being receipted, as opposed to the current standard of several months. If USCIS fails to meet the 15-calendar-day deadline, it not only will refund the premium processing fee but also will continue to expedite the processing of the petition.