The USA Has Expanded the Premium Processing of Work Authorization For Few F1 Visas (Study Visa)

ByShivani
  • The United States has expanded the premium processing of work authorization for some international students.
  • The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would now let certain F-1 students opt for premium processing services.

Who are the students who can opt for premium processing services?

Below types of students can request a premium processing upgrade:

  • F-1 visa holders who are seeking Optional Practical Training(OPT), and
  • F-1 visa holders seeking STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) OPT extension have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) enabled filing Form I-907 and Request for Premium Processing Service online for international students falling under these categories.

It will also continue to accept the latest paper version of this form by mail.

The Premium Processing Upgrade

  • The premium processing starts on March 6, and a few categories will begin on April 3.
  • As previously announced, the expansion of premium processing is part of USCIS’ efforts to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall immigration system and is being implemented in a phased approach.
  • The availability of premium processing for certain F-1 students, in addition to the ease of online filing, will streamline the immigration experience for a great many international students.
  • Premium processing expansion for certain F-1 students will occur in phases, and students requesting premium processing should not file before these dates:

Beginning March 6, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed either via paper form or online, for certain F-1 students who already have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, if they are filing under one of the following categories:

  • (c)(3)(A) – Pre-Completion OPT;
  • (c)(3)(B) – Post-Completion OPT; and
  • (c)(3)(C) – 24-Month Extension of OPT for STEM students.

Beginning April 3, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed either via paper form or online, for F-1 students in the above categories when filed together with Form I-765.

USCIS has said it will reject premium processing requests for a pending Form I-765 if received before March 6, and will reject any premium processing request for an initial or concurrently filed Form I-765 that is received before April 3.

Premium Processing of Green Cards

  • In January, the Biden Administration expanded the premium processing of some of the important categories of green card applicants and some categories of visas, particularly those related to training of foreign students.
  • The expansion of these categories is being carried out in phases beginning with the premium processing of EB-1 and EB-2 applications of Green cards.

This was in addition to all previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and manager classification, or E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a National Interest Waiver (NIW), US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

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