Premium processing of FY 2015 H-1B cap cases will be postponed until no later than April 28, USCIS has announced. Employers will be able to request premium service for H-1B cap cases between April 1 and April 28, but the agency will not begin working on premium cap cases until April 28 at the latest, meaning that adjudications could take several weeks longer than in previous years.
USCIS is delaying the start of the 15-day premium processing period for H-1B cap cases because it anticipates a very large number of premium requests between April 1 and April 7, the first five business days of the FY 2015 cap filing season. The extra time is intended to allow the agency to run the cap selection lotteries and complete data entry for the premium cases it receives. Receipt notices will not begin to be issued until these preliminary functions are completed. Although the receipt notice may indicate the date USCIS received the premium processing fee, the premium processing period itself will be postponed until April 28 at the latest.
Premium processing services for all other eligible employment-based petitions are expected to remain available as usual.
The announcement is a further indication that the FY 2015 H-1B cap is likely to be met quickly and that USCIS will receive more cap cases than it did last year. In the past, USCIS has postponed the start of premium processing for H-1B cap cases, but typically for just two weeks.
What This Means for Employers
When a petitioning employer requests premium processing, USCIS must approve, deny or request additional evidence in the case within 15 calendar days. The agency’s postponement means that employers requesting premium service for cap may not see agency action on their petitions until as late as Tuesday, May 13, 2014.
Explore more at Fragomen
Awards
The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America™ honors numerous Fragomen attorneys for excellence in immigration law, including Partner Sarah K. Peterson, who received the distinguished “Lawyer of the Year” award.
Video
In this video, Senior Manager Ben Morgan offers a comprehensive overview of Greek citizenship by descent—a key pathway for individuals with Greek ancestry to obtain citizenship.
Blog post
Partner Aim-on Larpisal and Senior Knowledge Management Specialist outline key visa options available to international students seeking to study in Thailand, emphasizing strategic planning for a smooth application process.
Fragomen news
Partner Charles Johanes contributed insights to the Australia section of a global immigration and mobility guide.
Media mentions
Pittsburgh Managing Partner Alex Castrodale and Associate Adam Teets highlight the need for US employers to prepare for unannounced immigration compliance checks.
Blog post
Associates Stephanie Fitton and Halil Kaya and Paralegal Marcus Alexander Lang-Rawlings discuss how UK changes to the Skilled Worker visa in 2025 are reshaping sports sector employment.
Blog post
Assistant Business Immigration Managers Jeszel Panistante-Cabral, Elsie Lim and Nellanie Quimson explore the complexities young professionals face entering the workforce and the evolving hiring landscape in Singapore.
Blog post
Director David Iannella discusses Fragomen Germany’s approach to outbound immigration solutions and how the office supports global mobility through visa services and compliance expertise.
Blog post
Corporate Services Manager Asfandyar Sheikh and Assistant Corporate Services Manager Ka-Ying Leung discuss Saudi Arabia’s push for corporate transparency through new ownership disclosure rules.
Video
In this video, we share an overview of Fragomen's posted worker compliance solutions.
Blog post
Partner Jo Antoons and Managers Sara Fekete and Andreia Florina Ghimis explore how digitalization is reshaping European compliance programs and share how organizations can prepare with Fragomen’s support.
Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik examines how the UK’s industrial strategy and immigration reforms will reshape talent access and create new opportunities for HR and mobility teams.
Awards
The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America™ honors numerous Fragomen attorneys for excellence in immigration law, including Partner Sarah K. Peterson, who received the distinguished “Lawyer of the Year” award.
Video
In this video, Senior Manager Ben Morgan offers a comprehensive overview of Greek citizenship by descent—a key pathway for individuals with Greek ancestry to obtain citizenship.
Blog post
Partner Aim-on Larpisal and Senior Knowledge Management Specialist outline key visa options available to international students seeking to study in Thailand, emphasizing strategic planning for a smooth application process.
Fragomen news
Partner Charles Johanes contributed insights to the Australia section of a global immigration and mobility guide.
Media mentions
Pittsburgh Managing Partner Alex Castrodale and Associate Adam Teets highlight the need for US employers to prepare for unannounced immigration compliance checks.
Blog post
Associates Stephanie Fitton and Halil Kaya and Paralegal Marcus Alexander Lang-Rawlings discuss how UK changes to the Skilled Worker visa in 2025 are reshaping sports sector employment.
Blog post
Assistant Business Immigration Managers Jeszel Panistante-Cabral, Elsie Lim and Nellanie Quimson explore the complexities young professionals face entering the workforce and the evolving hiring landscape in Singapore.
Blog post
Director David Iannella discusses Fragomen Germany’s approach to outbound immigration solutions and how the office supports global mobility through visa services and compliance expertise.
Blog post
Corporate Services Manager Asfandyar Sheikh and Assistant Corporate Services Manager Ka-Ying Leung discuss Saudi Arabia’s push for corporate transparency through new ownership disclosure rules.
Video
In this video, we share an overview of Fragomen's posted worker compliance solutions.
Blog post
Partner Jo Antoons and Managers Sara Fekete and Andreia Florina Ghimis explore how digitalization is reshaping European compliance programs and share how organizations can prepare with Fragomen’s support.
Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik examines how the UK’s industrial strategy and immigration reforms will reshape talent access and create new opportunities for HR and mobility teams.