USCIS announced that as of April 1, 2022, applications filed with H-1B petitions (including H-4 and H-4 EAD applications for H-1B dependents) must include separate checks for each USCIS fee payment. In other words, the H-1B payment and any other application included in the H-1B filing can no longer be issued on a single check. The H-1B payment for the filing fee must be on its own check, with the H-4 filing fee on a separate check, and so on. Failure to include separate checks for the respective filing fees for applications filed together will result in USCIS rejection. The only exception is for premium processing, which USCIS has confirmed can be combined with the H-1B filing fee on a single check.
For ILBSG clients, this announcement does not have any impact, as we include separate checks for each application as a standard practice, including premium processing.
USCIS emphasized that as it transitions to an electronic processing system, USCIS will be using multiple systems to receipt and process immigration applications. H-1B petitions, H-4 applications, and H-4 EAD applications are processed in different systems, so USCIS requires separate checks for each of these forms.
ILBSG has deep expertise in the H-1B visa, from initial filing through to managing compliance and adjustments for changing circumstances. If you have any questions about this update, any other H-1B question, or any immigration-related item, please reach out to an ILBSG attorney today.
