At a glance
- Beginning Tuesday, March 12, 2019, employers can request premium processing service for all H-1B petitions, USCIS has announced.
- The announcement suggests that premium processing will be available for the FY 2020 , though USCIS could announce a separate suspension at a later date.
This situation
USCIS will resume premium processing services for all new and pending H-1B petitions on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Employers who wish to upgrade cases to 15-day processing can file Form I-907 and the $1,410 premium fee.
The service will now be available for H-1B extensions of status, changes of employer, initial H-1B filings not subject to the annual cap, and amendments. Though the USCIS notice does not specifically address the FY 2020 H-1B cap filing season, which begins April 1, 2019, premium processing services appear to be available for those cases as well. USCIS could, however, impose a separate premium suspension for these cases at a later date.
Since January, USCIS has incrementally lifted the H-1B premium processing suspension, which was originally imposed on April 2, 2018.
What employers should do now
Employers with new or pending H-1B cases should contact their designated Fragomen representative if they wish to request premium processing service. Employers preparing responses to USCIS requests for evidence can include a premium processing request and fee with their response.
Employers planning to file FY 2020 H-1B cap cases should discuss premium processing with their Fragomen team, with the understanding that USCIS could later decide to suspend that service for cap cases as April 1 approaches.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Practice Leader Olga Nechita outlines key Portuguese visa options for UK nationals, including routes for entrepreneurs and retirees, alongside basic income and residency requirements.
Video
Partner Melissa Vasquez-Myers reviews the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, including retrogression for EB2 and EB1 India and forward movement in the EB3 category for Indian and Chinese nationals.
Media mentions
Awards
Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu is recognized by Women We Admire among the Top Women Leaders of Toronto for 2026 for her leadership in immigration and global mobility.
Video
Senior Manager Harry Goldstraw outlines key considerations for UK employers hiring international talent, including sponsorship requirements, visa pathways and compliance obligations shaping workforce mobility strategy.
Article
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons examines how the EU’s proposed social security reforms are reshaping A1 compliance for business travel, introducing “Day One” requirements and greater complexity.
Awards
Fragomen is recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 FEM Americas EMMAs, including Outstanding Agility & Crisis Management as a Service Provider and Thought Leadership – Best Survey or Research Study of the Year for the Worldwide Immigration Trends Report 2026.
Blog post
Destination Services Director Christine Sperr examines how housing market reforms, rent stabilization measures and cost-of-living dynamics in Saudi Arabia are influencing workforce mobility, compensation planning and long-term settlement strategies under Vision 2030.
Visas
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt explains how German authorities assess past travel and business activities and why suspected unauthorized work during prior visits can lead to visa refusals and temporary entry bans.
Video
Assistant Manager Sukhjeet Kaur discusses Romania’s proposed immigration reforms, including new visa categories, employer authorization requirements and a new digital immigration platform.
Podcast
Partner Cosmina Morariu and Senior Director Leah Rogal discuss the mission of Fragomen’s Center for Strategy and Applied Insights and how it helps organizations and governments navigate evolving immigration policy and global talent mobility challenges.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and Papaya Global announce a strategic partnership combining workforce technology and immigration capabilities to help organizations simplify global mobility, enhance compliance and manage cross-border workforces through a more integrated, technology-enabled approach.
Media mentions
Practice Leader Olga Nechita outlines key Portuguese visa options for UK nationals, including routes for entrepreneurs and retirees, alongside basic income and residency requirements.
Video
Partner Melissa Vasquez-Myers reviews the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, including retrogression for EB2 and EB1 India and forward movement in the EB3 category for Indian and Chinese nationals.
Media mentions
Awards
Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu is recognized by Women We Admire among the Top Women Leaders of Toronto for 2026 for her leadership in immigration and global mobility.
Video
Senior Manager Harry Goldstraw outlines key considerations for UK employers hiring international talent, including sponsorship requirements, visa pathways and compliance obligations shaping workforce mobility strategy.
Article
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons examines how the EU’s proposed social security reforms are reshaping A1 compliance for business travel, introducing “Day One” requirements and greater complexity.
Awards
Fragomen is recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 FEM Americas EMMAs, including Outstanding Agility & Crisis Management as a Service Provider and Thought Leadership – Best Survey or Research Study of the Year for the Worldwide Immigration Trends Report 2026.
Blog post
Destination Services Director Christine Sperr examines how housing market reforms, rent stabilization measures and cost-of-living dynamics in Saudi Arabia are influencing workforce mobility, compensation planning and long-term settlement strategies under Vision 2030.
Visas
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt explains how German authorities assess past travel and business activities and why suspected unauthorized work during prior visits can lead to visa refusals and temporary entry bans.
Video
Assistant Manager Sukhjeet Kaur discusses Romania’s proposed immigration reforms, including new visa categories, employer authorization requirements and a new digital immigration platform.
Podcast
Partner Cosmina Morariu and Senior Director Leah Rogal discuss the mission of Fragomen’s Center for Strategy and Applied Insights and how it helps organizations and governments navigate evolving immigration policy and global talent mobility challenges.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and Papaya Global announce a strategic partnership combining workforce technology and immigration capabilities to help organizations simplify global mobility, enhance compliance and manage cross-border workforces through a more integrated, technology-enabled approach.