USCIS Resumes Premium Processing Service (June 2020)
USCIS announced that it will resume premium processing service for eligible I-129 and I-140 visa petitions during June 2020. Premium processing service had been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resumption of premium processing service is scheduled to occur on a week-to-week basis as follows:
June 1
USCIS will begin accepting Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions. (See chart below.)
June 8
- H-1B petitions filed before June 8, 2020 that are pending adjudication and are cap-exempt (for example, petitions filed by petitioners that are cap-exempt and petitions filed for beneficiaries previously counted toward the numerical allocations).
- All other Form I-129 petitions (non H-1B petitions) for nonimmigrant classifications eligible for premium processing filed before June 8, 2020 that are pending adjudication. (See chart below.)
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June 15
H-1B petitions requesting premium processing service by filing an I-907 concurrently with their I-129 (or request for a petition filed on or after June 8, 2020) and are exempt from the cap because:
- The employer is cap-exempt or because the beneficiary will be employed at a qualifying cap-exempt institution, entity or organization (such as an institution of higher education, a nonprofit research organization or a governmental research organization); or
- The beneficiary is a cap-exempt physician based on a Conrad or other Interested Government Agency waiver.
June 22
- All H-1B cap-subject petitions (including those for fiscal year 2021), including change of status from F-1 nonimmigrant status, for both premium processing upgrades and concurrently filed I-907s.
- All other Form I-129 petitions for nonimmigrant classifications eligible for premium processing and requesting premium processing by filing an I-907 concurrently with their I-129.
All of the above dates are subject to change as USCIS continues to accept more requests for premium processing service. USCIS will announce any changes to these dates accordingly.
Premium Processing Service – Eligible I-140 Petitions
| Designated Classification Within Form I-140 | Corresponding Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Visa Classification | Availability Date |
|---|---|---|
| Aliens of extraordinary ability | EB-1 | Nov. 13, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009 |
| Outstanding professors and researchers | EB-1 | Sept. 25, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009 |
| Multinational executives and managers | EB-1 | Not Yet Available |
| Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver | EB-2 | Sept. 25, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009 |
| Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a National Interest Waiver | EB-2 | Not Yet Available |
| Skilled workers | EB-3 | Aug. 28, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009 |
| Professionals | EB-3 | Aug. 28, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009 |
| Workers other than skilled workers and professionals | EB-3 | Sept. 25, 2006 and reinstated June 29, 2009 |
Premium Processing Service – Eligible I-129 Petitions
| Designated Classification Within Form I-129 | Corresponding Nonimmigrant Classification |
Availability Date |
|---|---|---|
| Treaty Trader | E-1 | June 1, 2001 |
| Treaty Investor | E-2 | June 1, 2001 |
| Alien in Specialty Occupation | H-1B | July 30, 2001 |
| Temporary Worker performing nonagricultural services | H-2B | June 1, 2001 |
| Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor | H-3 | June 1, 2001 |
| Intracompany Transferee, Executive or Manager Capacity | L-1A | June 1, 2001 |
| Intracompany Transferee, Specialized Knowledge Professional | L-1B | June 1, 2001 |
| A petitioner meeting certain requirements which seeks continuous approval of itself and some or all of its parents, branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates | LZ
(Blanket L-1) |
June 1, 2001 |
| Alien of extraordinary ability or achievements in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics | O-1 | June 1, 2001 |
| Alien providing essential support services for a principal O-1 alien | O-2 | June 1, 2001 |
| Internationally recognized athlete or member of an internationally recognized entertainment group | P-1 | June 1, 2001 |
| Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-1 alien | P-1S | June 1, 2001 |
| Artist or Entertainer under a Reciprocal Exchange Program | P-2 | June 1, 2001 |
| Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-2 alien | P-2S | June 1, 2001 |
| Artist or Entertainer in a Culturally Unique Program | P-3 | June 1, 2001 |
| Essential Support Alien, highly skilled, who performs support services essential to the successful performance of the principal P-3 alien | P-3S | June 1, 2001 |
| International cultural exchange alien | Q-1 | June 1, 2001 |
| Alien in a Religious occupation | R-1 | July 30, 2001 and reinstated July 20, 2009 |
| NAFTA professional, Canada | TN-1 | July 30, 2001 |
| NAFTA professional, Mexico | TN-2 | July 30, 2001 |
