USCIS Premium Processing
Increased on February 26, 2024

premium processing Premium processing allows petitioners to pay an additional filing fee to expedite the adjudication of certain forms, generally within 15 days.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will increase premium processing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2021 through June 2023 according to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

The new fees will take effect for filings postmarked on or after February 26.

Under a separate rule, starting April 1, premium processing adjudication timeframes will change from calendar days to business days, effectively increasing processing times by one week or more, depending on the case type.

Please see the chart below:

Case type 

Current Premium Processing Fee

New Premium Processing Fee

Increase

Form I-140

$2500

$2805

$305

Form I-129

$2500
$1500 (H-2B & R-1)

$2805
$1685 (H-2B & R-1)

$305
$185

Form I-539

$1750

$1965

$215

Form I-765
(F-1 OPT)

$1500

$1685

$185

On June 12, 2023, USCIS announced the expansion of premium processing for applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. Online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, will also be available for these applicants.

On March 6, 2023, USCIS announced Premium Processing and New Online-Filing Procedures for Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT or STEM OPT Extensions.

On January 12, 2023, USCIS announced that beginning January 30, 2023, the agency will begin accepting premium processing requests for new and previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and manager classification or E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver (NIW). In March, USCIS will expand premium processing to certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-75. In April, USCIS will expand premium processing to F-1 students seeking OPT and STEM OPT extensions who are filing an initial Form I-765.

On September 15, 2022, USCIS expanded eligibility for premium processing upgrades of EB-1 multinational manager and EB-2 national interest waiver I-140 petitions.

Premium Processing (PP) Service provides faster processing for certain immigration employment-based petitions and applications. The USCIS promises 15 day processing to those petitioners or applicants who choose to use this service or they will refund the premium processing service fee. Even if the fee is refunded, the relating case will continue to receive expedited processing.

The 15 day period begins when Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, is received by USCIS accompanied by a filing fee of $2,500. USCIS will issue and serve the petitioner or applicant with one of the following: an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence or open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation within the 15 day period. If the petition or application requires the submission of additional evidence or a response to a notice of intent to deny, a new 15 business day period will begin upon receipt by USCIS of a complete response to the request for evidence or the notice of intent to deny.

Premium Processing applies to various nonimmigrant petitions like H-1Bs and L-1s, and to certain I-140 immigrant petitions like I-140s listed on the chart below.

premium processing

 

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Form I-129 Petitions Eligible for Premium Processing

 

Designated Classification Within Form I-129 Corresponding
Nonimmigrant
Classification
Availability Date
Treaty Trader E-1 June 1, 2001
Treaty Investor E-2 June 1, 2001
Australian Professional E-3 February 24, 2021
Alien in Specialty Occupation H-1B July 30, 2001
Temporary Worker performing nonagricultural services H-2B June 1, 2001
Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor H-3 June 1, 2001
Intracompany Transferee, Executive or Manager Capacity L-1A June 1, 2001
Intracompany Transferee, Specialized Knowledge Professional L-1B June 1, 2001
A petitioner meeting certain requirements which seeks continuous approval of itself and some or all of its parents, branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates LZ (Blanket L-1) June 1, 2001
Alien of extraordinary ability or achievements in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics O-1 June 1, 2001
Alien providing essential support services for a principal O-1 alien O-2 June 1, 2001
Internationally recognized athlete or member of an internationally recognized entertainment group P-1 June 1, 2001
Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-1 alien P-1S June 1, 2001
Artist or Entertainer under a Reciprocal Exchange Program P-2 June 1, 2001
Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-2 alien P-2S June 1, 2001
Artist or Entertainer in a Culturally Unique Program P-3 June 1, 2001
Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-3 alien P-3S June 1, 2001
International cultural exchange alien Q-1 June 1, 2001
Alien in a Religious occupation R-1 July 30, 2001 and
reinstated July 20, 2009
NAFTA professional, Canada TN-1 July 30, 2001
NAFTA professional, Mexico TN-2 July 30, 2001

 

Form I-140 Petitions Eligible for Premium Processing

 

Designated Classification Within Form I-140 Corresponding Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Visa Classification Availability Date
Aliens of extraordinary ability EB-1 Nov. 13, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009
Outstanding professors and researchers EB-1 Sept. 25, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009
Multinational executives and managers EB-1 Available on October 19, 2020
Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver EB-2 Sept. 25, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009
Skilled workers EB-3 Aug. 28, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009
Professionals EB-3 Aug. 28, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009
Workers other than skilled workers and professionals EB-3 Sept. 25, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009

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