NewsFlash! Processing Delays for H-4/EAD Applications Filed With H1B Premium Processing Cases

The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) is taking longer than normal to adjudicate H-4 I-539 applications and I-765 applications for H-4 employment authorization documents (EADs) that are filed concurrently with H1B petitions for premium processing.

While there is no premium processing available for H-4 or EAD applications, if they are submitted concurrently with a corresponding I-129 H1B petition that includes a premium-processing request, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) typically will adjudicate the H-4 and EAD applications in an expedited manner. Because premium processing service for H1B petitions is being suspended temporarily, effective April 3, 2017, the NSC is being inundated with such requests before this deadline. To deal with the large number of cases, the NSC has indicated that it will first adjudicate the I-129 petitions, and then process the H-4 and EAD applications a week or two later.

The NSC expects to work through this backlog within the next several weeks. Applicants and attorneys who do not receive any notice on one of these H-4 or H-4 EAD applications by the end of April are advised to contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center.

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