USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Certain I-140s
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that effective June 29, 2009, it has resumed Premium Processing Service for certain I-140 Immigrant Petitions for Alien Workers. USCIS will accept premium processing requests for I-140s involving the EB-1 (extraordinary ability and outstanding professors/researchers), EB-2 (members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a national interest waiver), and EB-3 (professionals, skilled workers, and other workers) categories.
Premium processing is still not available for I-140s involving EB-1 multinational executives and managers and EB-2 members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver.
Under premium processing, USCIS guarantees petitioners that for a $1,000 processing fee in addition to the normal filing fee, it will issue an approval notice, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence, or an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation within 15 calendar days of receipt. If the petition is not processed within 15 calendar days, USCIS will refund the $1,000 fee and continue to process the request. In addition to faster processing, petitioners who participate in the program may use a dedicated phone number and e-mail address to check on the status of their petitions or ask related questions.
Premium processing continues to be available for previously designated classifications within the I-140 and within the I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker.
