Savitz Law Offices, P.C.

6 Beacon Street 

Suite 900 

Boston, MA 02108 

Telephone: (617) 723-7111 

Fax: (617) 723-7171 

*Due to the inability of USCIS to meet processing deadlines, Premium Processing of all I-140 Petitions has been suspended until further notice.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the addition of two new classifications to the Premium Processing Service, which allows U.S. businesses to pay a $1,000 Premium Processing fee in exchange for 15-calendar-day processing of their case.

Starting on August 28, 2006, USCIS began accepting Premium Processing requests for I-140 Immigrant Petitions involving two types of cases within the third employment-based preference category (EB-3): Professionals, (i.e. immigrant workers with bachelor degrees who are members of the professions); and Skilled Workers, (i.e. immigrant workers capable of performing skilled labor requiring at least two years of education, training or experience). Premium Processing is not available for “other worker” cases within the EB-3 category (i.e. jobs that do not require two years of education, training or experience).

How the Premium Processing Service works is that for an additional $1,000 fee to USCIS, USCIS promises a response to the case within 15 days of filing. Additionally, if there is a request from USCIS for more information, the request can be made and responded to by e-mail and/or fax, and a decision is made by USCIS within 15 days of the response, so that process is much quicker as well.

Premium Processing Service continues to be available for the previously designated nonimmigrant classifications. For more information regarding Premium Processing, please see the Premium Processing News Flash.

For more information regarding Green Cards in general and employment-based Green Cards in particular, please visit the Information Center page.