Delays for H-4/EAD Applications Filed with Premium Processing H-1Bs

In light of the recent temporary suspension of premium processing for all H-1B petitions on April 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has experienced an influx of H-1B petitions filed under premium processing service. As per the current estimates, USCIS received 50,000 premium processing applications in the last three days of March 2017. As our readers may know, H-4 & H-4 employment authorization document (EAD) applications can be submitted along with the H-1B petitions.  Due to the increase of premium processing applications filed in the limited time along with the concurrently filed H-4 & H-4 EAD applications, USCIS service centers received a large influx of applications in a relatively short period of time.

The Nebraska Service Center (NSC), which adjudicates all H-1B extensions containing no changes to the beneficiary’s terms of employment, has announced that in order to meet the premium processing timelines it will prioritize the H-1B petitions. The H-4 & H-4 EAD applications that were concurrently filed with the H-1B petitions will not be adjudicated along with the H-1B petitions at this time. Instead, the H-4 & H-4 EAD applications will be sent to a different team for review and the adjudication of H-4 & H-4 EAD applications is expected to take another a week or two after a decision has been made on the H-1B petitions.

NSC expects the delay to continue until the surge is over and anticipates to eventually resume adjudicating H-4 & H-4 EAD applications submitted concurrently with H-1B petitions. If no notice has been received by the end of April, applicants are adviced to contact the National Customer Service Center to place a Service Request.

If you have any questions on H-4 or H-4 EAD applications, feel free to contact our office.