This was a piece of encouraging news coming from USCIS on the premium processing timeline for 2016 Cap subject H-1B petitions. USCIS will begin premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions requesting premium processing on April 27, 2015, including petitions seeking an exemption for individualswith a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
For H-1B petitions that are not subject to the cap and for any other visa classification, the 15-day processing period for premium processing servicebegins on the date that USCIS receives the request. However, for cap-subjectH-1B petitions, including advanced degree exemption petitions, the 15-dayprocessing period will begin on April 27, 2015, regardless of the date on theForm I-797 receipt notice, which indicates the date that the premium processingfee is received.