Earlier this year, USCIS announced that steps would be taken to increase visa processing efficiency, reduce wait times for petitioners, and generally reduce the overburdened legal immigration system. As part of this plan, USCIS has committed to expanding eligibility for premium processing over the course of 2022 to include the following petitions:
- Additional Form I-140 petitions
- Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
- Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization.
Just earlier this month, USCIS initiated Phase III of the Premium Processing expansion plan, effective immediately. This phase expanded premium processing eligibility to more Form I-140 petitioners whose petitions are currently pending:
- EB-1(c) Multinational Executive Manager Category – filed ON OR BEFORE January 1, 2022
- EB-2 National Interest Waiver – filed ON OR BEFORE February 2, 2022.
USCIS plans to continue expansion, eventually making all petitions under these two categories eligible for premium processing. That means if you, or if your client or employee qualifies for one of these categories go for it! If all goes according to plan, incrementally efficiency increases will ultimately reduce processing times for other I-140 petitions.
Processing times for EB-2 categories can still be years shorter than EB-3 categories, regardless of premium processing eligibility. If you or if your employee or client may qualify for EB-2 rather than EB-3, we urge you to explore your options for eligibility in the EB-2 category. At CCI TheDegreePeople.com we work with borderline cases every year. We can spot EB-2 eligibility, and we can help you meet this category’s educational requirements.
For a free review of your case, visit www.ccifree.com. We will respond in four hours or less.
Sheila Danzig
Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com. Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.