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USCIS Announcement: USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Applicants Changing into F, M, or J Nonimmigrant Status

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Shama Merchant Poonja Headshot

CEO & Managing Attorney

Shama Merchant Poonja

As a first generation American, Ms. Poonja is committed to the field of immigration law. Since 2013, Ms. Poonja has been representing corporate and individual clients on a wide variety of business and family immigration law matters.

Reviewed by:

Sejal Parikh Headshot

Senior Attorney

Sejal Parikh

Ms. Parikh’s experience in business immigration includes representing employers of all sizes in various industry verticals, from Fortune 500 multinational corporations to emerging growth companies, startups, and large consulting companies. She provides expertise across a wide range of employment-based cases, focusing on both nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions.

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On June 13th, 2023 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the expansion of premium processing for applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. In an effort to increase their electronic filing presence, online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, will also be available for these applicants.

The premium processing expansion for certain Form I-539 applicants will occur in phases, and nonimmigrants requesting premium processing should not file before these dates:

  • Beginning June 13, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
  • Beginning June 26, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed either via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, when filed together with Form I-539.

Important Takeaways:

  • This phase of premium processing service is only available for change of status requests. Premium processing is not available for individuals seeking an extension of stay in M-1 or M-2 status.  You must submit Form I-907 the same way you submit Form I-539 (either filing both forms electronically or filing both forms via mail.)
  • Applicants must submit their biometrics before premium processing can begin for these specific categories. Even if USCIS accepts an applicant’s Form I-907 and accompanying fees, the time limit for premium processing will not start running until the applicant and all co-applicants included on the Form I-539 submit their biometrics.
  • If filing online, the applicant must first create a free USCIS online account to securely submit forms, payment, and track the status of the application.

USCIS is expanding premium processing in a tiered approach to ensure compliance with the with the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, which prohibits the expansion of premium processing if it will increase processing times for the immigration benefit requests. We welcome these significant changes in filing applications with USCIS.

 

Source: USCIS

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