How Do I Request Premium Processing?
ALERT: Starting June 13, 2023, applicants seeking to change to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, may request a premium processing upgrade by filing Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, without Form I-539, online or by mail with the Elgin Lockbox. For the correct filing location, visit uscis.gov/i-907.
Starting June 26, 2023, applicants seeking to change to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who do not already have a pending Form I-539, may file Form I-539 together with Form I-907 when filing online or by mail with our Montclair address.
ALERT: Starting April 3, 2023, certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, together with Form I-907 when filing online or by mail.
As of March 6, 2023, certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and wish to request a premium processing upgrade, can file their Form I-907 online.
USCIS will adjudicate premium processing requests for certain eligible and properly filed Forms I-539 and I-765 within the 30-day time frame specified by Congress.
After any I-765 is approved, your EAD card should be produced within one to two weeks. Your EAD card will be mailed via U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail. The time frame in which you will receive your EAD card may vary, depending on USPS delivery times. Please allow a total of 30 days from approval before inquiring with USCIS. We encourage you to use Case Status Online to find your USPS tracking number for EAD card delivery. If you have not received your EAD card within this time frame, please visit e-Request - Self Service Tools (uscis.gov) for instructions on how to submit an inquiry.
Additional information is available in the Where to File section of the Form I-907 page.
What is it?
Premium processing provides expedited processing for the following forms:
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker;
- Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker;
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
There is a fee to request this service. If you request premium processing, we guarantee that we will take adjudicative action on the case, as described below, within the time periods described below, or we will refund the premium processing fee:
- 15 calendar days for most classifications;
- 30 calendar days for Form I-765 for F-1 students seeking OPT or STEM OPT extensions;
- 30 calendar days for Form I-539 applicants requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status, once all prerequisites, including receipt of biometrics, have been met;
- 45 calendar days for Form I-140 E13 multinational executive and manager and Form I-140 E21 national interest waiver classifications
Please refer to the charts below for all processing times as new categories become available.
The associated time period begins when we receive a properly completed Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, at the correct filing address. To be considered “properly completed,” a petition or application must have the required signature and the correct filing fee, as specified here. For Form I-539 applicants, the processing clock will not begin until all applicants and co-applicants have completed the required biometric services appointment, for these specific categories. Within the associated time period, we will take one of the following actions on the case:
- issue an approval notice
- issue a denial notice
- issue a notice of intent to deny
- issue a request for evidence
- open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation
If the petition or application requires the submission of additional evidence or a response to a notice of intent to deny, the 15-, 30-, or 45-day premium processing time period will stop and reset. A new premium processing time period will begin when we receive a response to the request for evidence or notice of intent to deny.
Who is eligible?
The charts below list the forms, designated classifications within each form type, and current availability and termination dates (when applicable) for premium processing service.
Petitioners filing Form I-129 requesting a change or an initial grant of status for beneficiaries within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are not eligible for premium processing service.
H-1B, H-2B, and certain H-3 classifications may have annual numerical limit (“cap”) restrictions. We recommend you verify whether a cap is applicable to your filing and whether that cap has been met. Filing Form I-907 does not give special cap benefits to you. (See “How will USCIS manage those categories that have an annual limit in relation to this faster processing?” below.)
| Designated Classification Within Form I-129 | Corresponding Nonimmigrant Classification | Availability Date1 | Termination Date2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treaty trader | E-1 | June 1, 2001 | |
| Treaty investor | E-2 | June 1, 2001 | |
| Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia | E-3 | Feb. 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, 20093 | |
| NAFTA professional, Canada | TN-1 | July 30, 2001 | |
| NAFTA professional, Mexico | TN-2 | July 30, 2001 |
1 The availability date is the date that the classification was initially deemed eligible for premium processing.
2 The termination date reflects the last day that we accepted premium processing filings requesting that specific classification. If a date is entered in this column, that classification is currently ineligible for premium processing.
3 We initially suspended premium processing for nonimmigrant religious worker visa petitions on Nov. 28, 2006. On July 20, 2009, we started accepting Form I-907 for I-129 petitions seeking R-1 classification.
| Designated Classification Within Form I-140 | Corresponding Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Visa Classification | Availability Date1 | Termination Date2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aliens of extraordinary ability | E11 | Nov. 13, 2006, and reinstated June 29, 20093 | |
| Outstanding professors and researchers | E12 | Sept. 25, 2006, and reinstated June 29, 20093 | |
| Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver | E21 | Sept. 25, 2006, and reinstated June 29, 20093 | |
| Skilled workers4 | E31 | Aug. 28, 2006, and reinstated June 29, 20093 | |
| Professionals4 | E32 | Aug. 28, 2006, and reinstated June 29, 20093 | |
| Workers other than skilled workers and professionals | EW3 | Sept. 25, 2006, and reinstated June 29, 20093 |
| Designated Classification Within Form I-140 | Corresponding Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Visa Classification | Availability Date1 | Termination Date2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multinational executives and managers | E13 | As of Jan. 30, 2023, all pending and initial Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and manager classification are eligible to request premium processing. | |
| Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver | E21 | As of Jan. 30, 2023, all pending and initial Form I-140 petitions under an E21 NIW classification are eligible to request premium processing. |
1 The availability date is the date that the classification was initially deemed eligible for premium processing.
2 The termination date reflects the last day that we accepted filings requesting that specific classification. If a date is entered in this column, that classification is currently ineligible for premium processing.
3 On July 2, 2007, we temporarily suspended premium processing for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(f)(2). However, after an evaluation of our Form I-140 backlog reduction efforts and increased Form I-140 adjudicative efficiencies, we concluded that as of June 29, 2009, we would reinstate premium processing for this benefit.
4 If designated as available. Please see the section on additional conditions placed on premium processing availability.
| Form I-765 Category | Description | Availability Date | Termination Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| (c)(3)(A) | F-1 student, pre-completion Optional Practical Training | Please refer to the upgrade chart below for pending and concurrently filed applications. | |
| (c)(3)(B) | F-1 student, post-completion Optional Practical Training | Please refer to the upgrade chart below for pending and concurrently filed applications. | |
| (c)(3)(C) | F-1 student, 24-month extension for STEM Optional Practical Training | Please refer to the upgrade chart below for pending and concurrently filed applications. |
| Designated Classification Within Form I-539 | Corresponding Nonimmigrant Visa Classification | Availability Date | Termination Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Student or Dependent of F-1 | F-1, F-2 | Please refer to the upgrade chart below for pending and concurrently filed applications. | |
| Vocational Student or Dependent of M-1 | M-1, M-2 | Please refer to the upgrade chart below for pending and concurrently filed applications. | |
| Exchange Visitor or Dependent of J-1 | J-1, J-2 | Please refer to the upgrade chart below for pending and concurrently filed applications. |
Premium Processing for E13 Multinational Executives and Managers or E21 with National Interest Waiver
Beginning June 1, 2022, we began phasing in premium processing for E13 multinational executives and managers. On July 1, 2022, we began phasing in E21 petitions seeking a national interest waiver (NIW) and additional E13 multinational executive and manager petitions. As of Jan. 30, 2023, all pending and initial Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and manager classification and E21 NIW classification are eligible to request premium processing.
Premium Processing for F-1 Students Seeking OPT and STEM OPT extensions
Beginning March 6, 2023, we began phasing in premium processing for F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions. As of April 3, 2023, all pending and initial Form I-765 petitions filed by F-1 students in these categories are eligible to request premium processing. Online filing of Form I-907 is also available to F-1 students in these categories.
USCIS will adjudicate premium processing requests for certain eligible and properly filed Forms I-539 and I-765 within the 30-day time frame specified by Congress.
After any I-765 is approved, your EAD card should be produced within one to two weeks. Your EAD card will be mailed via U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Informed Delivery. The time frame in which you will receive your EAD card may vary, depending on USPS delivery times. Please allow a total of 30 days from approval before inquiring with USCIS. We encourage you to use Case Status Online to find your USPS tracking number for EAD card delivery. If you have not received your EAD card within this time frame, please visit e-Request - Self Service Tools (uscis.gov) for instructions on how to submit an inquiry.
Premium Processing for Form I-539 Applicants Seeking to Change to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 Nonimmigrant Status
On June 13, we will begin phasing in premium processing for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Online filing of Form I-907 is also available to these applicants. Please refer to the chart below regarding the upgrade schedule and when new applications may be filed with the request for premium processing.
| Start Date | Corresponding USCIS Form Type |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2023 | Pending Form I-539 requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status |
| June 26, 2023 | Form I-539 requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status filed together with Form I-907 |
No, except in cases where the petitioner is eligible to file a self-petition (that is, the petitioner and the beneficiary are the same). Otherwise, only the petitioner (or the attorney or representative who has filed Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, on behalf of the petitioner) may request premium processing for a designated petition. While the petitioner, beneficiary, attorney, or representative, however, may pay the premium processing service fee, the beneficiary cannot sign or file Form I-907.
Check the Edition Date section of our Form I-907 webpage for information on the current edition date.
As the petitioner or applicant (or attorney or representative), you must complete and sign Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, according to the instructions (PDF, 232.15 KB) on the current version of the form. If you are filing Form I-907 together with Form I-129 or Form I-140, you must file both forms according to the Form I-129 instructions (PDF, 524.7 KB) or Form I-140 instructions (PDF, 540.37 KB). If you have already filed Form I-129 or Form I-140 and you now wish to request premium processing, 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. If we transferred your petition to another service center and you received a transfer notice, we strongly recommend that you submit your Form I-907 to the service center that is now handling your petition. You should also include a copy of the transfer notice with your premium processing request to avoid delays.
If you are an F-1 student and you have already filed Form I-765 requesting OPT or a STEM OPT extension and you now wish to request premium processing, file Form I-907 online or with the Chicago Lockbox.
For Form I-140 and Form I-129 petitions, we will reject any Form I-907 that is filed at an office without geographic jurisdiction over the underlying petition, if the Form I-907 is filed:
- Together with a Form I-140 petition;
- Together with a Form I-129 petition; or
- As a standalone request relating to a Form I-129 petition that was not transferred to a different service center.
We will not reject any Form I-907 that is filed at an office without geographic jurisdiction over the underlying petition if the Form I-907 is mistakenly filed at the wrong service center as a standalone request relating to a Form I-140 petition or as a standalone request relating to a Form I-129 petition that we transferred to a different service center. In these cases, we will forward the Form I-907 to the service center that has jurisdiction over the underlying petition. For incorrectly filed Forms I-907, the premium processing time period begins on the date the correct service center receives the file, as indicated in the Form I-907 filing instructions.
For Form I-765 requesting OPT or a STEM OPT extension, Form I-907 will be rejected if the application is not an eligible category for premium processing or if we are not able to match your Form I-907 with the receipt for your Form I-765 requesting OPT or a STEM OPT extension.
Beginning June 13, 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests filed via paper form or online, for nonimmigrants who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and requested a change of status to one of the following:
- F-1 Academic Student or F-2 Dependent of F-1M-1 Vocational Student or M-2 Dependent of M-1J-1 Exchange Visitor or J-2 Dependent of J-1
If you already submitted Form I-539 to request a change of status to one of these classifications, and you want to request premium processing, file Form I-907 online or on paper with the appropriate Lockbox. You must file Form I-907 the same way you submitted Form I-539 (online or via paper form.)
Beginning June 26, 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests filed via paper form or online, for applicants seeking to change into F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, when filed together with their Form I-539.
For Form I-539 requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, Form I-907 will be rejected if the application is not an eligible category for premium processing or if we are not able to match your Form I-907 with the receipt for your Form I-539 requesting a change of status.
Only certain F-1 students seeking OPT or STEM OPT extensions, or applicants requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status, may file Form I-907 online at this time. If you file a paper Form I-907, or any other USCIS form, you can create an online account to track the status of your case and sign up for case notifications.
To file Form I-907 online, you must first create a USCIS online account, which provides a convenient and secure method to submit forms, pay fees, and track the status of any pending USCIS immigration request throughout the adjudication process. There is no cost to set up a USCIS online account, which offers a superior user experience over paper filing. If you have previously filed a USCIS form online, you may use your existing USCIS online account.
Due to limitations with the online Form I-907, representatives who previously filed a Form G-28 will need to file a new Form G-28 when requesting premium processing. Representatives who prefer not to file Form G-28 online must file their premium processing request and Form G-28 with the appropriate lockbox.
Yes. Premium processing is available for the Form I-140 classifications indicated on the charts above. Please review to determine your eligibility to either upgrade a pending E13 multinational executive and manager or E21 NIW petition, or to submit an initial E13 multinational executive and manager or E21 NIW petition. (Please see “How do I file a request for premium processing?” section, above, for how info on how to upgrade).
Check the Filing Fee section of our Form I-907 webpage for information on the current filing fee.
Fee waivers not available: USCIS fee waiver regulations at 8 CFR 103.7(c) (Oct. 1, 2020) provide that a discretionary waiver may be provided if the party requesting the benefit is unable to pay the prescribed fee. Therefore, a fee waiver is not available for a form for which Form I-907 is submitted and a premium processing fee is paid.
Premium processing is not available for Form I-539 applications filed for dependents of a Form I-129 beneficiary classification at this time.
Yes. In general, discretionary expedite requests will no longer be available for classifications designated as eligible for premium processing. However, petitioners designated as not-for-profit entities by the IRS have the choice to request discretionary expedited service as they have in the past, or they may choose to pay the premium processing service fee and use that service. If the not-for-profit entity doesn’t meet the criteria for a discretionary expedite, the petitioner may still request premium processing by filing Form I-907 and paying the fee.
Those who pay for premium processing on petitions filed for nonimmigrant classifications that are subject to annual numerical (“cap”) limits will not have an unfair access to these limited immigration programs.
If necessary, we will apply a random selection process to all petitions received on the final receipt date for cap-subject H-2B and H-3 petitions, regardless of whether premium processing is requested. We will adjudicate these randomly selected cases and will reject and return the fees for any unselected cases, as well as cases that were filed after the final receipt date.
If necessary, for the H-1B cap, we will apply a random selection process to all registrations received during the initial registration period or final registration date. If we suspend the registration process, we will apply a random selection process to all petitions received on the final receipt date for cap-subject H-1B petitions, regardless of whether premium processing is requested. If the final receipt date is any of the first five business days on which petitions subject to the H-1B regular cap may be received (i.e., if the cap is reached on any one of the first five business days that filings can be made), USCIS will randomly select from among all the petitions properly submitted during the first five business days the number of petitions deemed necessary to meet the H-1B cap. In either scenario, we will adjudicate these randomly selected petitions and will reject and return the fees for any unselected petitions, as well as petitions that were filed after the final receipt date.
Once you have filed Form I-907 for your underlying Form I-129, Form I-140, Form I-765, or Form I-539, you may contact the service centers directly. Please note that the toll-free number and email address listed on the receipt notice for the Form I-907 are only for users who have already submitted a request for premium processing. If you have not requested premium processing service, you can call 800-375-5283 for general information about the program.
Customer service is a top priority for USCIS, and we remain committed to ensuring that applicants and petitioners have timely, meaningful access to assistance and resources. If you have not filed your Form I-907, or have other case-related questions, we offer a number of customer service tools that you may find helpful.
If you have already filed Form I-907 and you need to contact the service center, call 866-315-5718. Be sure to have your receipt number ready. If you filed your Form I-907 online for a Form I-765 requesting OPT or a STEM OPT extension, you may send a secure message through your USCIS online account.
Premium processing is not available for Form I-539 applications filed for dependents of a Form I-129 beneficiary classification. However, applications for change of status or extension of stay properly filed together with a Form I-539 for derivative H-4 or L-2 status will be adjudicated at the same time as the principal’s Form I-129. This means that an officer will review the H-4 or L-2 derivative’s Form I-539 as soon as possible after reviewing the principal’s Form I-129 and will take appropriate adjudicative action (that is, issue an approval, denial, RFE, NOID or refer for an investigation) after that adjudicative review when the derivative’s Form I-539 is packaged together with and properly filed at the same time and in the same location as the principal’s Form I-129. Individuals applying for other classifications may request expedited processing on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please see our Options for Terminated Workers page and How to Make an Expedite Request page.