USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Students, Trainees, Exchange Visitors and their Dependents

USCIS announced earlier this week that it will expand the availability of premium processing to pending applications to change status (Form I-539) to F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1 or M-2 effective June 13.  The request to premium process the pending applications on Form I-907 will be accepted both by mail and online, but should be done in the same way the Form I-539 was submitted.  

USCIS will open up premium processing to first-time applications to change status to F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1 or M-2 effective June 26, 2023.  Applicants will need to use the same method for submitting the request to premium process and application to change status - that is, either paper-based by mail or online.  

The expansion of premium processing service is only available for change of status requests; it will not be available for applicants seeking an extension of stay. 

The premium processing fee for these applications is $1,750 and the adjudication period is 30 calendar days.  Furthermore, all applicants must complete their biometrics before the 30-calendar-day premium processing window begins.  

Finally, to submit an application online, an applicant must first create a myUSCIS online account. More information on how to create a myUSCIS online account can be found here. 

The agency’s full announcement is available here. 

This alert is for informational purposes only.  Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.