INS on Track to Add H1Bs, TNs, and Rs to Premium Program
Posted Jul 27, 2001

We have reported previously in the MurthyBulletin that premium processing, whereby cases can be expedited for an additional fee of $1000 over and above all other filing fees, will soon become available for H1B, TN, and R petitions. The INS Director of Service Center Operations, Fujie Ohata, has reportedly confirmed that these categories of petitions will be added to the program as scheduled on July 30, 2001. (Please note that there is some confusion about the date. Earlier reports, as well as INS' own information sheets, stated July 30, 2001 as the starting date. An AILA Newsflash stated July 31, 2001. Although other attorneys may provide different guidance, it may be prudent to send in requests for premium processing no earlier than July 31, 2001, to be on the safe side, so that they arrive no earlier than this.)

Please note that if, during the current fiscal year or in a subsequent year, the number of H1B approvals comes close to the H1B cap, it may become necessary to suspend H1Bs from the premium processing program.