Today USCIS announced that due to operational interruptions it is experiencing as a result of the health and safety protocols it is following in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, data entry and receipting for all FY2021 H-1B cap subject petitions will be delays until at least May 1, 2020. USCIS has indicated that once data entry begins, the agency will complete intake processing on a first-in, first-out basis. It confirmed that petitions will be stamped as received on the date they arrive at the service center and, if otherwise properly filed, will retain the receipt date that corresponds with the date the petition is received at the service center.
USCIS further confirmed that this announcement does not change the 90-day filing window provided on the initial registration notices. USCIS requested that petitioners refrain from inquiring on cases until they have received a filing receipt and further noted that some petitions may be transferred to other service centers to balance workloads but that petitioners should still submit their petitions at the service center indicated on their registration notice.
D&S will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available.