H1B Premium Processing

H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. H1B visa processing time will depend on the type of procedure that you choose. You can choose regular procedure or premium processing. This article will show you what different between two types and provide more detail about premium processing.

When you filed H1B petition with USCIS by standard process, there is no extra fees required for faster service, then that petition is treated to be filed under regular processing. H1B regular application processing time is 3 months to 1 year for approvals.

Premium Processing for the H1B Visa is a service provided by the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) that offers 15 day processing time. If you want to shorten the processing time of the visa, you have to pay extra premium processing fee. The goal of premium processing is that USCIS will have a decision of your case within 15 days.

Absolutely, no. Applying for H1B premium processing will not increase your chances for getting H1B petition approved. It is just for expedites the processing time. So don’t think that you pay more fees to increase the chance for your visa approved. Within the 15 calendar days period, USCIS will issue an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence or open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation. If application requires the submission of additional evidence or a response to a notice of intent to deny, more time will be required for premium processing (a new 15 calendar day period will begin). Read more about H1B transfer processing.

The optional premium processing fee for H1B is going up from $1410 to $1440 USD. It is a $30 increase in the fee. This was effective from Dec 2nd, 2019. This fee will be paid by either you or the employers. If paid by you, the employer needs to prove that it was expedited strictly for personal reasons and not for the benefit of the petitioning employer.