After decades of asking, USCIS finally expanded its premium processing service to include additional immigration petitions and application types.
Here are the key points that you need to know:
1 – The initial expansion will apply to these categories: Forms I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, EB-1 multinational managers and executives and EB-2 national interest waiver category will be allowed to upgrade the case to premium processing.
2 – Opportunities are currently limited to petitions that were filed over a year ago. USCIS will NOT accept, at this time, new “initial” filings in the applicable categories.
3 – Acceptable Premium Processing, Form I-907, will change. For June 2022, USCIS will accept both the 09/30/20 and the 05/31/22 editions. Starting on July 1, 2022, the older I-907 version will be rejected.
4 – Premium Fee will remain $2,500, but, adjudication for these categories is expected to be within 45 days (yes, this is much better than the current–over a year delays!)
5- Premium for Form I-539 requests for change of status or extension of stay and Form I-765 Requests for Employment Authorization will become available at some uncertain point in the future – USCIS says ” before 2025!”
The initial phase of premium processing expansion is expected to be as follows:
Effective Date |
Categories |
June 1, 2022 |
EB-1 multinational executive and manager petitions received by the USCIS on or before January 1, 2021. |
July 1, 2022 |
EB-2 national interest waiver (NIW) petitions received on or before June 1, 2021. |
July 1, 2022 |
EB-1 multinational manager or executive petitions received on or before March 1, 2021. |
Before 2025 |
Form I-539 requests for change of status or extension of stay and Form I-765 Requests for Employment Authorization for certain F, M and J nonimmigrants. |
We look forward to working with our clients on this long-awaited premium processing option!