USCIS Provides Updates on Expansion of Premium Processing

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the premium processing service soon will be made available for all new and pending I-140 petitions filed under the EB1(c) multinational executive and manager category and EB2 national interest waiver (NIW) I-140 petitions. The USCIS also provided an update on when premium processing is expected to become available for students and exchange visitors.

Premium Processing for EB1(c) and EB2 / NIW I-140 Petitions

Effective January 30, 2023, the USCIS will begin to accept requests for premium processing service (form I-907) for all EB1(c) and EB2 / NIW I-140 petitions, including both new and pending petitions. This is the final phase of a process that began in June 2022, when the USCIS began allowing premium processing requests for certain pending I-140 petitions in these two categories.

Premium Processing for Certain Students and Exchange Visitors

Beginning in March 2023, the USCIS expects to start phasing in the availability of premium processing for F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) or a STEM OPT extension. Initially, this option will be available only to F-1 students who have already filed a form I-765 by an as-yet-unannounced date. By April 2023, the USCIS expects to expand this option to all OPT and STEM OPT applicants.

Then, in May 2023, the USCIS expects to make premium processing available for certain F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors with pending applications to extend / change nonimmigrant status (form I-539). By June 2023, the USCIS hopes to expand this option for those certain student and exchange visitors who are filing initial form I-539 applications.

Conclusion

The USCIS does not expect that this increase in availability of premium processing will result in increased processing times for cases filed without a form I-907. Once more details are released on these expansion plans for premium processing, the information will be posted on MurthyDotCom.

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