When Will H1-B Petitions Get Receipt Notices, Be Processed, and Notifications Made?

On April 13, 2020, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced delays in entering data and generating receipt notices for FY 2021 Cap-subject H-1B petitions until “at least” May 1, 2020.  Due to delayed data entry and notice generation, there will be a general delay in processing FY 2021 cap-subject petitions. USCIS advises it is, “mindful of petitions with sensitive expiration and start dates, such as cap-gap petitions, and will strive to process these petitions as efficiently as possible.”

The Filing Window Remains Unchanged

Note the specified filing window on the registration selection notices will not be changed. A petitioner who has a valid selected registration notice must file their H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the selected registration notice during the filing window indicated in their selection notice, or USCIS will reject or deny the petition.

Possible Transfer to a Different Service Center

Finally, although petitions are required to be filed with the appropriate service center, some H-1B cap-subject petitions may be transferred later by USCIS to a different service center in an effort to increase efficiencies and balance the workload.  If a petition is transferred, notice of the transfer will be sent to the petitioner, and all future correspondence should be sent to the new service center.

For help with a current or needed H1-B petition, please contact business immigration lawyer Barbara Marcouiller.