USCIS Announces Final Phase of Premium Processing Expansion
USCIS Announces Final Phase of Premium Processing Expansion: On January 12, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it is implementing the final phase of its expansion of premium processing for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications.
This phase will apply to new (initial) petitions, in addition to all previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an EB-1 multinational executive and manager classification or EB-2 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability under the national interest waiver (NIW). All applications must include a Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service.
Starting on January 30, 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for:
- All pending EB-1 multinational executive and manager petitions and EB-2 NIW petitions; and
- All initial EB-1 multinational executive and manager petitions and EB-2 NIW petitions.
USCIS’s efforts to expand premium processing to additional form types is to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall legal immigration system.
March 2023
- USCIS will expand premium processing to certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking STEM OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
April 2023
- USCIS will expand premium processing to F-1 students seeking OPT and F-1 students seeking STEM OPT extensions who are filing an initial Form I-765. Specific dates will be announced for each group in February 2023.
Work in Progress for May – June 2023
As USCIS implements these expansions of premium processing in a phased approach, they will continue working towards premium processing availability of Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. USCIS anticipates expanding premium processing for certain student and exchange visitors with pending Form I-539 applications in May 2023 and certain student and exchange visitors filing initial Form I-539 applications in June 2023.
What is USCIS:
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) holds a critical position within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and assumes responsibility for the administration and oversight of the nation’s immigration system. A key aspect of USCIS’s role involves processing diverse immigration applications, including visas, green cards, work permits, and naturalization requests. The agency’s primary mission is to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the immigration process while ensuring the protection of the rights of individuals seeking entry or residency in the United States. To achieve this, USCIS conducts thorough interviews, meticulously reviews applications, and renders decisions on eligibility for immigration benefits, always in strict compliance with the pertinent laws and regulations governing immigration within the United States.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at info@poonahimmigrationlaw.com for further information.
Read More:
