Congress Expands Premium Processing to Cover More Applications

As part of an appropriations bill that was passed last week to fund the US government, Congress has authorized U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  to raise its premium processing fees from $1,440 to $2,500, and to expand the petitions and applications eligible for premium processing to include applications for employment authorization (Form I-765), applications to change or extend status (Form I-539), and immigrant petitions for multinational managers and executives (Form I-140).  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also will have the authority to designate other cases for premium service. 

Processing Time Frames and Costs for Petitions and Applications Eligible for Premium Processing

Here are the maximum costs and timeframes for processing applications and petitions that will now be eligible for premium processing.  The current 15-calendar day time frame is not required for these applications and petitions.

Limiting Suspension of Premium and Mandating Transition to Electronic Filings

The new legislation limits the ability of USCIS to suspend premium processing services only where DHS cannot complete a “significant number” of premium requests within the required time period. 

USCIS also will need to come up with a five-year plan to establish electronic filing procedures for all applications and petitions for immigration benefits, including electronic payment and correspondence.  

When will Premium Processing Under the New Legislation Become Available? 

When and how USCIS will be able to implement the new premium processing services remain to be seen. The agency is expected to issue an announcement when the services will be available to petitioners and applicants. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as soon as they become available. 

This alert is for informational purposes only.  If you would like to discuss this development further, please do not hesitate to contact us.