Premium processing will be offered in two phases during this year’s H-1B cap season. The first phase will accept premium processing requests only for cap-subject H-1B petitions that request a change of status within the United States. Petitioners must request premium processing with the H-1B change of status application. Otherwise, they will need to wait until premium processing begins to submit the request. USCIS will begin premium processing for these petitions no later than May 20, 2019.
The second phase will include all other fiscal year 2020 cap-subject petitions, including those who request consular notification and will need to enter the U.S. to trigger H-1B status. It will not begin until at least June 2019. Petitioners must wait to submit their premium process request until the service becomes available again. Thus, those who are eager to know quickly whether their application has been accepted by the lottery and the decision on their application should request premium processing simultaneously with the H-1B petition, request a change of status within the U.S., and not travel internationally until the petition is adjudicated.