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Writer's pictureJennifer Grady
Jun 1, 20204 min read

USCIS Resumes Premium Processing and Reopens Field Offices in Phases

On March 20, USCIS announced the temporary suspension of Premium Processing for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

On June 1, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, in phases over the next month.


Watch our video for more details and recommendations on using Premium Processing for employment-based applications

  1. Effective June 1, 2020, USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions, which can be used for EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 immigrant petitions for an alien worker (used to achieve Legal Permanent Residence (Green Card).

2. Effective June 8, USCIS will accept premium processing requests for:

  1. H-1B petitions filed before June 8 that are pending adjudication and are cap-exempt (for example, petitions filed by petitioners that are cap-exempt and petitions filed for beneficiaries previously counted toward the numerical allocations).

  2. All other Form I-129 petitions (non H-1B petitions) for nonimmigrant classifications eligible for premium processing filed before June 8 that are pending adjudication. These include petitions for the E-1, E-2, H-2B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, Q-1, R-1, and TN visas.

3. Effective June 15, USCIS plans on resuming premium processing for:

  1. H-1B petitions requesting premium processing by filing an I-907 concurrently with their I-129 (or request for a petition filed on or after June 8) and are exempt from the cap because:

  2. The employer is cap-exempt or because the beneficiary will be employed at a qualifying cap-exempt institution, entity or organization (such as an institution of higher education, a nonprofit research organization or a governmental research organization); or

  3. The beneficiary is cap-exempt based on a Conrad/IGA waiver under INA section 214(l).

4. Effective June 22, USCIS plans on resuming premium processing for all other Form I-129 petitions, including:

  1. All H-1B cap-subject petitions (including those for fiscal year 2021), including change of status from F-1 nonimmigrant status, for both premium processing upgrades and concurrently filed I-907s.

  2. All other Form I-129 petitions for nonimmigrant classifications eligible for premium processing and requesting premium processing by filing an I-907 concurrently with their I-129.

All dates are subject to change as USCIS continues to take on more premium processing requests and USCIS will announce any changes to these dates accordingly.

For a list of forms and application types that are eligible for Premium Processing, visit: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/how-do-i-request-premium-processing

FIELD OFFICE REOPENING STARTING JUNE 4, 2020

Department of Homeland Security | DHS.gov

Beginning June 4, 2020, certain USCIS field offices and asylum offices will resume non-emergency face-to-face services to the public. Application support centers will resume services later. USCIS has enacted precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in reopened facilities:

  1. Visitors may not enter a USCIS facility if they:

  2. Have any symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever or difficulty breathing;

  3. Have been in close contact with anyone known or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days; or

  4. Have been individually directed to self-quarantine or self-isolate by a health care provider or public health official within the last 14 days.

  5. Visitors may not enter the facility more than 15 minutes prior to their appointment (30 minutes for naturalization ceremonies).

  6. Hand sanitizer will be provided for visitors at entry points.

  7. Members of the public must wear facial coverings that cover both the mouth and nose when entering facilities. If they do not have one, USCIS may provide one or the visitor will be asked to reschedule their appointment.

  8. There will be markings and physical barriers in the facility; visitors should pay close attention to these signs to ensure they follow social distancing guidelines.

  9. Individuals may also have to answer health screening questions before entering a facility.

  10. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own black or blue ink pens.

Appointment notices will include further instructions for visiting USCIS facilities. For more information, see the web alert.


Also, the following field support offices are now closed. Please contact the nearest field office for assistance, or visit https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings for more information.

We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on individuals, businesses, and immigrants. Stay turned for the latest information. We can help prepare an extension of stay application or assist with overstay issues. The Grady Firm works with dynamic employers and employees across the country to prepare successful employment-based visa and Green Card applications. In addition, we help individuals, families, employees, business owners, and investors obtain non-immigrant and immigrant visas (B-1/B2, H-1B, H-2B, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, TN, E-2, E-3), as well and Green Cards and citizenship based on family relationships, investment, or employment.

Click here to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with The Grady Firm’s attorneys; call +1 (949) 798-6298; or fill out a Contact Request Form. This article is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. This article does not make any guarantees as to the outcome of a particular matter, as each matter has its own set of circumstances and must be evaluated individually by a licensed attorney.

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