By Elliot Smilowitz - 03-04-17 08:00 AM EST
The Trump administration on Friday said it will suspend premium processing for H-1B visa visa petitions for high-skilled workers.
U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Services (USCIS) said the suspension - which affects an option cutting the visa petition process from several months to two weeks - will take effect April 3 and last up to six months.
H-1B visas, often referred to as high-skilled visas, let U.S. companies temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. Companies had been allowed to petition for premium processing by paying a $1,225 fee.
Under premium processing, USCIS typically responded within 15 days. Under norma procedures, H-1B petitions take between three and six months to get a judgement, according to The Verge.
H-1B visas are particularly used by the tech industry, and Silicon Valley companies will likely be hit by the change.
USCIS said the suspension will help them work through a large backlog of non-premium petitions.
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