On May 19^th, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a temporary suspension of its Premium Processing Service for those filing an H1B Extension of Stay petition. This suspension is expected to remain in effect until July 27, 2015, after which applicants will be able to once again pay for premium processing of their extension applications. According to Berd & Klauss, PLLC, respected New York immigration attorneys, suspending this service is necessary to allow USCIS to implement the new Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Spouses rule and process those applications in a timely manner.

Typically, the premium processing service guarantees that an application will be processed within 15 calendar days. USCIS will continue to provide premium process for applications filed using the service before May 26^th, 2015, but will refund the service fee is the application isn't acted upon before the 15-day deadline is reached.

While the premium processing service is suspended, applicants may still apply for H1B extensions, but all applications will be subject to the standard processing timeframe. Also, premium processing is still available for all other H1B applications, such as those requesting a change of nonimmigrant status or requesting consular notification, as well as for other visa services.

As part of their commitment to providing high-quality legal services, Berd & Klauss, PLLC stay informed on all changes to immigration law. For more about their expertise and comprehensive selection of services available, visit their website, or call (212) 461-7152 to schedule a consultation with an immigration lawyer today.