03-10-2017, 08:04 PM
The USCIS announced to suspend H1B premium processing (pp) from April 3rd. However, most programs, especially those in underserved area, rely this pathway to get their intern to start on time. We hope everyone potential under the influence will join us to email ECFMG ASAP and get their support.
We should know several things about this issue and include them in our emails to ECFMG. Programs may not have strong incentive to push it. Given the recent NRMP email, which granted higher flexibility with a waiver to programs, programs no longer need to be committed to the MATCH binding contract. Matched candidates are no longer protected and can be easily replaced by programs with the waiver, if our h1b visa processing is delay by USCIS.
1. There is extremely limited time for us/programs to prepare and submit H1B application before April 3rd. Many states such as FL, IL, MA require a valid state license/training permit should be obtained and included in h1b visa application. This process may take 2 weeks to 2 months. Without expedite processing, it might take up to 2 months after Match Day to get a state license and then additional 6+ months for H1b visa via normal non-expedite processing)
2. USCIS will still provide expedited processing in limited situations if applicants can demonstrate that one or more of the following criteria have been met: 4) Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria
We need support from ECFMG and programs to prove PP is critical to the social interests of the United States, since most programs willing to sponsor H visa take care a lot of underserved patients.
3. Without expedited processing, we may have to be forced to use j visa, which may not be feasible for IMGs from certain countries. A lot of IMGs rank their ROL based on programs' visa policy, but they couldn't expect this before ROL submission.
=====================================================================================
Feel free to use this email template and email it to CaseManager@ecfmg.org
Title: Regarding suspension of H1b visa premium processing services from April 3
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am an IMG from XX country. My ECFMG id is XXX. I'm very concerned about the USCIS recent suspension of H1b premium processing. Most programs, especially those in underserved area, rely this pathway to get their intern to start on time on H1b visa. Without expedited processing, our applicants may have to use j visa, which may not be feasible for IMGs from certain countries. A lot of IMGs rank their ROL based on programs' visa policy, but they could never expect this before ROL submission.
There is extremely limited time for us/programs to prepare and submit H1B application before April 3rd. Many states such as FL, IL, MA require that a valid state license/training permit should be obtained and included in h1b visa application. This process may take 2 weeks to 2 months. Without expedite processing, it might take up to 2 months after Match Day to get a state license and then additional 6+ months for H1b visa via normal non-expedite processing)
USCIS will still provide expedited processing in limited situations if applicants can demonstrate that one or more of the following criteria have been met: 4) Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria
We need ECFMG's support to prove that expedited processing of h1b visa is critical to the social interests of the United States, since most programs willing to sponsor H visa take care a lot of underserved patients. At the same time, we will greatly appreciate if ECFMG may notify programs that expedite process may still work for us with proper assistance from programs and ECFMG.
Best,
XXX