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EXPLAINER · EVERY RULE QUOTED FROM AN OFFICIAL SOURCE · CHECKED OCTOBER 18, 2026

Premium processing

What USCIS premium processing is, which forms and I-140 categories it covers, what the guarantee means, and how it is requested.

Premium processing is an optional USCIS service that speeds up the handling of certain forms for an extra fee. USCIS lists four forms it covers, including the I-140 immigrant petition.[1][2]

The request is made on Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service.[3]

What the guarantee covers

USCIS guarantees it will take action on the case within a set time, or refund the premium processing fee.[4]

"Action" does not have to mean approval. Within the time period, USCIS will do one of these:[5]

  • Issue an approval notice, a denial notice, a request for evidence (RFE) or a notice of intent to deny (NOID).[6]
  • Open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation.[7]

If USCIS asks for more evidence or sends a NOID, the clock stops and starts over when the response arrives.[8]

The time periods

The time periods are counted in business days. USCIS lists them on its premium processing page, and says to check its charts as new categories are added.[9][10]

The clock starts when USCIS receives a properly completed Form I-907 at the correct filing address.[11]

Which I-140 categories are covered

USCIS's chart lists these I-140 classifications under the 15-business-day period:[12]

  • Aliens of extraordinary ability (E11).[13]
  • Outstanding professors and researchers (E12).[14]
  • Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a national interest waiver (E21).[15]
  • Skilled workers (E31) and professionals (E32), marked "if designated as available."[16][17][18]
  • Workers other than skilled workers and professionals (EW3).[19]

Two I-140 categories have a longer, 45-business-day period: multinational executives and managers (E13), and workers seeking a national interest waiver (E21 NIW). USCIS says all pending and new petitions in both can request premium processing as of Jan. 30, 2023.[20][21]

Who can request it and how

Only the petitioner, or the petitioner's attorney or representative with a Form G-28 on file, can request premium processing, except in self-petitions. Any of them may pay the fee, but the beneficiary cannot sign or file the I-907.[22][23][24]

  • With a new I-140: the I-907 is filed together with it, following the I-140 instructions.[25]
  • For an I-140 already pending: the I-907 goes to the service center where the I-140 is pending, with a copy of the I-140's Form I-797 receipt notice.[26]

Fee

USCIS points to its Fee Schedule for the current fee, and says no fee waiver is available for Form I-907.[27][28]

See it in the data

The I-140 processing times USCIS has published are recorded on the I-140 processing times page.

For what the petition itself is, see Form I-140.

This page explains general rules in plain English. It is not legal advice and does not tell you what applies to your case. Each numbered source below is the official page the sentence comes from; read it before relying on anything here.

Sources

  1. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Premium processing provides expedited processing for the following forms: Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker; Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.”
  2. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “There is a fee to request this service.”
  3. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “you must complete and sign Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, according to the instructions on the current version of the form.”
  4. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “If you request premium processing, we guarantee that we will take adjudicative action on the case within the time periods described below, or we will refund the premium processing fee”
  5. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Within the associated time period, we will take one of the following actions on the case”
  6. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “issue an approval notice, denial notice, notice of intent to deny, or a request for evidence”
  7. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “or open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation.”
  8. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “the 15-, 30-, or 45-day premium processing time period will stop and reset. A new premium processing time period will begin when we receive a response to the request for evidence or notice of intent to deny.”
  9. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “15 business days for most classifications; 30 business days for Form I-765”
  10. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Please refer to the charts below for all processing times as new categories become available.”
  11. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The associated time period begins when we receive a properly completed Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service , at the correct filing address.”
  12. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers – adjudicative action to be taken within 15 business days”
  13. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Aliens of extraordinary ability E11”
  14. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Outstanding professors and researchers E12”
  15. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver E21”
  16. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Skilled workers 4 E31”
  17. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Professionals 4 E32 Aug. 28, 2006”
  18. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “4 If designated as available.”
  19. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Workers other than skilled workers and professionals EW3”
  20. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “45 business days for Form I-140 E13 multinational executive and manager and Form I-140 E21 national interest waiver classifications”
  21. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “As of Jan. 30, 2023, all pending and initial Form I-140 petitions requesting an E13 multinational executive and manager classification and E21 NIW classification are eligible to request premium processing.”
  22. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “except in cases where the petitioner is eligible to file a self-petition (that is, the petitioner and the beneficiary are the same).”
  23. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Otherwise, only the petitioner (or the attorney or representative who has filed Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, on behalf of the petitioner) may request premium processing for a designated petition.”
  24. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “While the petitioner, beneficiary, attorney, or representative, however, may pay the premium processing service fee, the beneficiary cannot sign or file Form I-907.”
  25. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “If you are filing Form I-907 together with Form I-129 or Form I-140, you must file both forms according to the Form I-129 instructions or Form I-140 instructions based on the form that you filed .”
  26. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “File Form I-907 with the service center where your Form I-140 is currently pending, along with a copy of the Form I-797, Receipt Notice, for your Form I-140.”
  27. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “For information on the current filing fee, see our Fee Schedule .”
  28. USCIS, How Do I Request Premium Processing?. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “USCIS fee waiver regulations at 8 CFR 106.3(a) do not provide for a Fee Waiver for Form I-907.”

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