US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers expedited processing for certain qualifying immigration cases filed with USCIS Form I-129 and USCIS Form I-140 through the USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing service. We review USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing and the categories covered here.
What is Premium Processing?
Premium processing provides expedited processing for certain US immigration filing with USCIS that are filed using Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. Premium processing provides the option for expedited case processing through the payment of an added premium processing fee. Depending on the case type, USCIS guarantees that they will “take action” on a case filed with premium processing within 15 -45 calendar days depending on the case type. If no action is taken within the promised time frame, USCIS will refund the premium processing fee and will continue with expedited processing.
What doe USCIS consider “taking action” for premium processing?
USCIS considers “taking action” on a case filed with premium processing any form of adjudicative action within the promised 15-45 calendar days. This can include, approval, denial, a request for additional evidence (RFE), a notice of intent to deny (NOID), a request for initial evidence (RFI), or any USCIS adjudicative action. Taking action does not guarantee approval within the promised time frame.
What cases filed with USCIS qualify for Form I-907 Premium Processing?
By filing USCIS Form I-907 along with the $2,500 processing fee the following immigration classifications qualify for premium processing. USCIS continues to expand the Form I-907 premium processing option to more nonimmigrant classifications. The following charts list the current nonimmigrant classifications that qualify for USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing.
USCIS Form I-129 Nonimmigrant Classifications qualified for 15-day Premium Processing
- E-1 Treaty trader
- E-2 Treary investor
- E-3 Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia
- H-1B Alien in a specialty occupation
- H-2B Temporary worker performing nonagricultural services
- H-3 Trainee of a special education exchange visitor
- L-1A Intracompany transferee, executive or manager capacity
- L-1B Intracompany transferee, specialized knowledge professional
- LZ (Blanket L-1) A petitioner meeting certain requirements which seek continuous approval of itself and some or all of its parents, branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates
- O-1 Alien of extraordinary ability or achievements in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
- O-2 Alien providing essential support services for a principal O-1 alien
- P-1 Internationally recognized athlete or member of an internationally recognized entertainment group
- P-1S Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-1 alien
- P-2 Artist or entertainer under a reciprocal exchange program
- P-2S Essential support alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-2 alien
- P-3 Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program
- P-3S Essential support alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-3 alien
- Q-1 International cultural exchange alien
- R-1 Alen in a religious occupation
- TN-1 NAFTA professional, Canada
- TN-2, NAFTA professional, Mexico
USCIS Form I-140 Immigrant Petitions qualified for 15-day Premium Processing
- E11 Aliens of extraordinary ability
- E12 Outstanding professors and researchers
- E13 Multinational executives and managers – Added Jan. 30, 2023
- E21 Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver
- E21 Petitions seeking a national interest waiver – Added Jan. 30, 2023
- E31 Skilled workers
- E32 Professionals
- EW3 Workers other than skilled workers and professionals
USCIS Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status qualified for 30-day Premium Processing
Currently unavailable. USCIS is expected to extend premium processing to Form I-539 in 2023. The USCIS Form I-907 premium processing fee for this option will be $1,750.
USCIS Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization qualified for 30-day Premium Processing
Currently unavailable. USCIS is expected to extend premium processing to Form I-765 in 2023. The USCIS Form I-907 premium processing fee for this option will be $1,500.
How do I request premium processing?
Premium processing is requested by filing USCIS Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service with USCIS together with the qualifying USCIS Form I-129 or USCIS Form I-140.
How do I upgrade my pending case to premium processing?
If you have already filed Form I-129 Application or Form I-140 Petition that qualifies for premium processing and would like to request premium processing, you must file Form I-907 with the service center where your Form I-129 or Form I-140 is currently pending, along with a copy of the Form I-797, Receipt Notice, for your Form I-129 or Form I-140.
What if my case was transferred to another USCIS office?
If USCIS transferred your case to another service center and you received a transfer notice, you should submit your Form I-907 to the service center that is now handling your case. You should also include a copy of the transfer notice with your premium processing request to avoid delays.
Payment of the USCIS Form I-907 filing fee
Starting May 31, 2022, you must pay the Form I-907 fee separately from other filing fees. If you submit a single, combined fee payment for multiple forms, USCIS will reject the forms for improper fee payment.
Read the full USCIS Announcement Here
- USCIS Form I-907 Request for Premium Processing
- USCIS Form I-907 Instructions
- USCIS How do I request premium processing?
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