Premium Processing for OPT and STEM OPT EADs

USCIS has announced that Premium Processing (PP) will become available for certain F-1 students in phases:

• Effective Immediately: USCIS will accept PP requests for pending I-765 applications for OPT and STEM OPT.
• Beginning 04/03/2023: USCIS will accept PP requests for new I-765 applications for OPT and STEM OPT.
• May 2023 (expected): USCIS will accept PP requests for pending I-539 applications for F/J status.
• June 2023 (expected): USCIS will accept PP requests for new I-539 applications for F/J status.

Additionally, USCIS announced that, for the first time, Form I-907, request for PP service, can be filed online for students seeking OPT or STEM OPT.  Applicants who previously filed a paper Form I-765 and wish to file Form I-907 online to request premium processing should reference the USCIS Account Access Notice they received for the Online Access Code and details on how to link their paper-filed cases to their online account, or they will need file a paper Form I-907 with the Chicago lockbox.

If you have questions regarding this recent update, please contact ILG.