For better opportunities, many people around the world seek employment in the U.S. If you are seeking employment in the U.S. you may do so by obtaining an H-1B visa. An H-1B visa is essentially a non-immigrant work visa that allows employers in the U.S. to hire foreign workers with specialized skills to work in specialty occupations that require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of education. The regular processing period to obtain an H-1B visa averages between 6-8 months. Some people are eager to begin working in the U.S. and may be able to opt for premium processing. Please continue reading to learn more about this processing option for H-1B visas and how an adept Middlesex County, New Jersey Business Immigration Lawyer can help you today.
What is premium processing?
If you are seeking employment in the U.S. through an H-1B visa, you may be able to undergo premium processing. Essentially, premium processing provides expedited processing for the following:
- Form I-129 Petetion for Nonimigant Worker
- Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
- Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guarantees that adjudicative action will be taken within a certain timeframe for a fee. Specifically for Form I-129, the USCIS promises adjudicative action will be taken within 15 calendar days after USCIS has received your application, and the Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. If USCIS does not process your premium processing within the specified period for Form I-129, they will refund the fees you’ve paid. The fee for premium processing of Form I-129 is approximately $2,500.
How does it work?
It is imperative that you properly complete your application. This means you must provide a proper signature accompanied by the correct filing fee. The basic filing fee for this process for Form I-129 is approximately $460. After USCIS has received a proper petition or application, they will take one of the following actions:
- An approval notice will be issued.
- A denial notice will be issued.
- A notice of intent to deny will be issued.
- A request for evidence will be issued.
- An investigation into fraud or misrepresentation will be opened.
In some cases, your petition or application may require additional submissions of evidence or a response to a notice of intent to deny. When this is the case, your processing period will reset. Your new premium processing period will begin once again when USCIS receives additional evidence or a response to a notice of intent to deny.
If you are interested in USCIS’s premium processing option for H-1B visas, contact our trusted business immigration lawyers today. Our firm can guide you through this process and provide you with valuable information on how to move forward.
