July 2001 - H1B News
H1B Premium Processing available from July 30th 2001

The Premium processing program will guarantee that the INS will turn around certain specified petitions and applications within 15 calendar days or will refund the money if it is unable to do so. The additional filing fee for these types of applications is $1,000.

The $1000 additional fee will be placed in a special trust fund to allow INS to hire more officers and reduce backlog among all applications. At present, the following types of non-immigrant categories which are eligible for premium processing. ( E-1 , E-2, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, L-1, O-1/O-2, P, Q )

The INS regulations have announced that as of July 30, 2001, H1B cases will be included in the premium processing.

INS will issue either Approval Notice or Request for evidence or Deny the application within 15 days from the receipt date.

Previously filed H1B cases can be converted into premium processing by paying $1000 additional fee.