USCIS Expands Premium Processing for F-1 Students Seeking OPT and STEM OPT Extensions.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions is now available to those with a pending Form I-765 who wish to request an upgrade. F-1 students in these categories can file their Form I-907 request for premium processing either online or via paper form, but they must do so according to the following timeline:

• From March 6, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for certain F-1 students with pending Form I-765 applications who are filing for Pre-Completion OPT, Post-Completion OPT, or 24-Month Extension of OPT for STEM students.

• From April 3, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for F-1 students in the above categories when filed together with Form I-765.

USCIS will reject any requests for premium processing that are received before the above dates. Applicants who wish to file Form I-907 online must first create a USCIS online account, which is free and offers secure features such as communication with USCIS and tracking of pending requests.

The expansion of premium processing is part of USCIS’ efforts to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the immigration system, and is being implemented in phases. With the addition of online filing for Form I-907, there are now 16 forms available for online filing. USCIS continues to accept paper versions of all forms by mail. In FY 2022, more than 1.8 million applications, petitions, and requests were filed online, representing a 53% increase from FY 2021.

If you have any questions regarding how the United States immigration and nationality laws may affect you or your family members, or if you would like to access more information about the United States or Canadian immigration and nationality laws, please don’t hesitate to contact NPZ Law Group’s immigration and nationality lawyers. You can reach us via email at info@visaserve.com or call us at 201-670-0006 extension 204. Furthermore, you can also visit our website at www.visaserve.com for additional information.

USCIS link: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-premium-processing-new-online-filing-procedures-for-certain-f-1-students-seeking-opt