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New Expanded Premium Processing Services and Increased Costs Effective October 19

By October 16, 2020March 31st, 2021Immigration, News

USCIS announced today that the new expanded premium processing services will take effect on October 19. Premium processing guarantees that USCIS will take adjudicative action on the application within 15 days. If USCIS fails to do so, the agency will return the fee but still expedite the application. Premium processing also guarantees that any RFE or NOID responses will also be adjudicated within 15 days. Please click here to learn more about premium processing. One of the changes is that premium processing fees has now increased from $1440 to up to $2500.

The program has also expanded to include more applications and petitions, including the following:

 

Type Processing Time Premium Processing Fee
Most Form I-140, EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 petitions 15 calendar days $2500
EB-1 Multinational Manager EB-2 National Interest Waiver EB-2 Physician 45 days Not greater than $2500
Form I-129 Nonimmigrant Worker Petition Form I-129 ApplicationsE-1E-2H-1BH-2BH-3L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, R-1, TN-1 and TN-2. 15 calendar days $2500
Form I-539 Change or Extension of Status to F, J, or M 30 days Not greater than $1750
Form I-539 Change or Extension of Status for EHLOP, and R Dependents 30 days Not greater than $1750
Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization 30 days Not greater than $1500

The new regulations has also limited DHS’ authority to suspend premium processing services. DHS usually suspends premium processing when they have a large amount of application to process and feel that the agency cannot complete the review of application in a timely manner. Now, DHS are only permitted to suspend services when DHS cannot complete a “significant number” of premium processing requests. It also requires DHS to provide petitioners and applicants with “direct and reliable” access to premium case status information and the ability to communicate with premium processing units at USCIS Service Centers.

The new amounts will take effect on October 19.

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