For those who are in need of an expedited decision on an employment-based application (such as a request to extend or change status), the premium processing service offered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (or USCIS) can be a critical option. By requesting premium processing and paying the premium processing fee, the applicant is guaranteed adjudicative action from USCIS in 15 business days for most petitions, an amount of time that is far shorter than the months that USCIS usually requires to adjudicate the petition.
In this post we take a look at several frequently asked questions about premium processing, including which forms are eligible, how to apply for it and how much it costs, what USCIS actually guarantees, and what happens if they fail to provide a decision within the guaranteed timeframe.
This post covers how premium processing works. For guidance on whether you should use it in a given case, see Premium Processing: When to Use It and When to Avoid It.
- Which applications are eligible for premium processing?
- What do I get by requesting premium processing?
- How much does premium processing cost?
- How do I request premium processing?
- When does the premium processing clock start?
- Can I request premium processing after submitting the initial application?
- What happens if USCIS misses the guaranteed timeframe?
- If USCIS refunds the fee, will it still expedite my application?
- I have a question or concern involving my premium processing request. How do I contact USCIS?
Which applications are eligible for premium processing?
USCIS periodically changes the applications that are eligible for premium processing. An updated list of eligible petitions can be found here. As of the March 1, 2026 fee adjustment, premium processing is available for the following:
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. Available for E-1 treaty traders, E-2 treaty investors, E-3 specialty occupation professionals from Australia, H-1B specialty occupation professionals, H-2B temporary workers, H-3 trainees, L-1 intracompany transferees, O-1 and O-2 applicants, P classifications, Q-1 cultural exchange visitors, R-1 religious workers, and TN professionals.
- Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. Available for the E11, E12, E13, E21 (both with and without a national interest waiver), E31, E32 and EW3 classifications.
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Available for applicants requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1 or J-2 status.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Available for F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or a STEM OPT extension.
Premium processing is not available for every employment-based filing. Notably, it is not offered for the Form I-526E immigrant petition filed by EB-5 investors.
What do I get by requesting premium processing?
For applicants who request premium processing, USCIS guarantees that it will take adjudicative action on the petition within a set timeframe. Adjudicative action means that the petition is either approved or denied, or that USCIS issues a request for additional evidence (RFE) or a notice of intent to deny (NOID).
This is an important distinction. Premium processing buys a faster response, not a faster approval and not a guaranteed approval. USCIS applies exactly the same legal standard to a premium processing case as it does to a case in the standard queue.
The guaranteed timeframes are:
- 15 business days for most Form I-129 classifications and for the Form I-140 E11, E12, E21 (not seeking a national interest waiver), E31, E32 and EW3 classifications;
- 45 business days for the Form I-140 E13 multinational executive and manager classification and the Form I-140 E21 national interest waiver classification;
- 30 business days for eligible Form I-539 applications, once all prerequisites have been met; and
- 30 business days for eligible Form I-765 applications.
If USCIS issues an RFE or a NOID, the clock resets. A new period of the same length begins once USCIS receives your response. This means a premium processing case that draws an RFE can take considerably longer than the headline timeframe suggests, and it is one of the main reasons premium processing is not always the right choice for a case that may not withstand immediate scrutiny.
How much does premium processing cost?
The premium processing fee depends on the form and the classification you are seeking. The figures below took effect for any Form I-907 postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, following a biennial inflation adjustment by the Department of Homeland Security.
| Form and classification | Fee | Timeframe |
| Form I-129, all classifications other than H-2B and R-1 | $2,965 | 15 business days |
| Form I-129, H-2B and R-1 | $1,780 | 15 business days |
| Form I-140, E11, E12, E21 (no national interest waiver), E31, E32, EW3 | $2,965 | 15 business days |
| Form I-140, E13 and E21 national interest waiver | $2,965 | 45 business days |
| Form I-539, change of status to F, M or J | $2,075 | 30 business days |
| Form I-765, F-1 OPT and STEM OPT | $1,780 | 30 business days |
The premium processing fee is charged in addition to the filing fee for the underlying petition, not instead of it. Each fee must be paid to USCIS separately. An employer filing a Form I-129 with premium processing is therefore paying the I-129 filing fee, any applicable surcharges, and the Form I-907 fee.
Filing with the wrong amount will result in the premium processing request being rejected and returned.
How do I request premium processing?
An applicant requests premium processing by filing the USCIS Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, and paying the applicable fee. The form can be filed on paper or online through a USCIS online account.
Make sure that you are using the current edition of the form, that you pay the correct fee, and that you closely follow all instructions. The current edition of the Form I-907 and its instructions can be found here.
When does the premium processing clock start?
The guaranteed period starts when USCIS receives the properly filed Form I-907, not when the underlying petition was filed and not when the courier delivered the package. A Form I-907 that is rejected for an incorrect fee or an outdated form edition does not start the clock at all.
Can I request premium processing after submitting the initial application?
Yes, a petition can be “upgraded” to premium processing after it has been filed. This is done by properly filing the Form I-907, along with the filing fee, after the initial petition is already pending. The guaranteed period then runs from the date USCIS receives the Form I-907.
What happens if USCIS misses the guaranteed timeframe?
If USCIS fails to take adjudicative action within the guaranteed period, it will refund the premium processing filing fee. The refund is typically issued only once the petition has been adjudicated.
If USCIS refunds the fee, will it still expedite my application?
Yes. USCIS will continue to expedite processing of the petition even where it has failed to meet the guaranteed deadline and has refunded the fee.
I have a question or concern involving my premium processing request. How do I contact USCIS?
Many inquiries can be resolved by calling the USCIS premium processing line at 1-800-315-5718.
Since USCIS has several facilities that process premium processing requests, it is useful to know where your request is being handled. You can determine this by looking at the receipt notice you received after filing the request. The assigned service center is usually noted at the bottom of the receipt notice. Alternatively, the receipt number printed at the top of the receipt notice will typically start with three letters that reflect the assigned service center: EAC represents the Vermont Service Center, WAC represents the California Service Center, SRC represents the Texas Service Center, and LIN represents the Nebraska Service Center.
