USCIS Expands Premium Processing for F, M and J Status Changes in Phases
USCIS announced a phased expansion of premium processing for Form I-539 change-of-status requests to F, M and J nonimmigrant status: starting June 13, 2023, pending applicants may add Form I-907, and from June 26 it may be filed together with Form I-539. The fee is $1,750 for a 30-day processing period, biometrics must be completed first, and M-1/M-2 extensions are excluded.
USCIS announced yesterday that starting today (June 13, 2023), applicants seeking to change status to F/M student or J exchange visitor can simultaneously request premium processing. The fee is $1,750, and the processing time is 30 days. Previously, such applications often took six months to a year, causing many applicants to postpone enrollment or even experience a status gap.
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USCIS has expanded premium processing for applicants seeking to change to F, M, or J nonimmigrant status.
USCIS announced today that it will expand premium processing to applicants who file Form I-539 to change status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. Such applicants may file Form I-907 online to request premium processing service.
The expansion of premium processing will be implemented in phases:
- If you have already filed Form I-539 to change status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2, starting June 13, you may submit Form I-907 by mail or online to request premium processing.
- Starting June 26, if you file Form I-539 to change status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2, you may simultaneously submit Form I-907 to request premium processing.
Premium processing at this stage applies only to change of status applications. Individuals seeking extension of M-1 or M-2 status cannot use premium processing.
Premium processing requests filed before June 13 will be rejected. If you submit premium processing concurrently with Form I-539 before June 26, it will also be rejected.
Important reminder: You must submit Form I-907 in the same manner as you submitted Form I-539.
- If you mailed a paper Form I-539 to us, you must mail a paper Form I-907.
- If you filed Form I-539 online, you must file Form I-907 online.
Before USCIS begins prioritizing your application, you must first complete biometrics (fingerprinting). If you have not yet been fingerprinted, the 30-day premium processing clock will not start even if USCIS accepts your Form I-907 and charges the fee—it begins only after the applicant (and all co-applicants) have been fingerprinted. Please note that if an applicant submits Form I-907 and/or Form I-539 concurrently with other applications, including requests with multiple I-907 forms filed at the same time, USCIS may reject those applications.
To file Form I-907 online, the applicant must first create a USCIS online account. This account provides a convenient and secure way to submit forms, pay fees, and track the status of any pending USCIS immigration application. Setting up a USCIS online account is free, and the account offers various features, including communicating with USCIS through a secure inbox and responding to requests for evidence online.
As previously mentioned, the expansion of premium processing is part of USCIS's efforts to improve efficiency and reduce the burden on the entire immigration system. USCIS will expand premium processing in phases to ensure compliance with the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, which prohibits expanding premium processing if doing so would increase processing times for immigration benefit applications.
