The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed yesterday, April 14, 2015, that it will officially begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases on April 27, 2015. Normally, USCIS guarantees a 15 calendar-day processing time from the date of receipt, however, due to the historic premium processing receipt level combined with the high volume of H-1B cap petitions received in the filing season, USCIS has temporarily adjusted its premium processing practice. For H-1B cap cases, including the regular cap petitions and advanced degree exempt petitions, the premium processing clock will start on April 27, 2015 regardless of the date of receipt. For those cases that are not subject to the H-1B cap, the premium process clock will begin from the date of receipt, in accordance with USCIS’ normal procedures.
