H1b premium processing suspended again?
Seems like they have suspended H1b premium processing again. Does anyone know if this also affects visa transfers for existing H1b holders?
Yes, I found out from attorney this morning. It impacts existing H1B holders as well :(
Was there any announcement on USCIS website?
Yes
So every six months they suspend premium processing to clear the backlog. Thanks to the useless RFEs they issue arbitrarily these days.
There will be no RFE from September 11. This was communicated long back.
I don’t think it meant ‘no RFEs’. It meant USCIS doesn’t HAVE to give an RFE. Also the memo was released in July ffs, not “long back” and only comes into effect in September, so existing backlog could be due to their previous RFEs.
Yes. There is nothing call H1b transfer anymore. USCIS treat every H1b as new and they review like first time H1b thats some friends H1b transfer was rejected because bachelors was in Mechanical and Electrical. There will be no RFE in most of H1b transfer or extension and USCIS will reject the case instead of RFE.
Does this affect i140 Premium processing as well?
No
So how will people move. Moving based on receipt is too risky now. So will companies wait for 6 months??
realistically you have until the end of this week, and quite possibly early next week to initiate a transfer if you’re going to join a new company. Otherwise be prepared to wait 4-5+ months for the H1B transfer.
I don’t think so. Transfer should be fine.
Not true. Transfers are also fucked.