The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services have extended the premium processing for certain F1 students, including those seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and those seeking OPT extensions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics who have a pending Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) and want to request a premium processing upgrade.
According to a press release by the USCIS, the online filing of Request for Premium Processing Service (Form I-907) is not also available to students in these categories. In addition, the availability of premium processing for some F-1 students will enable more international students to become immigrants, VisaGuide.World reports.
“The ongoing expansion of online filing is a priority for USCIS as we continue to create operational efficiencies and increase access to the immigration system for stakeholders, applicants, petitioners, requestors, and those we serve,” Director Ur M. Jaddou said.
The press release further reveals that the premium processing expansion for several F-1 students will be rolled out in phases, and students requesting premium processing should start filing after March 6, when USCIS will be open to accepting requests for Premium Processing Services that are either filed via paper form or online for all F-1 students pending an application for employment authorization, provided they fall into one of the following categories:
Pre-Completion OPT
Post-Completion OPT
24-Moth Extension of OPT for STEM students
In addition, USCIS will start accepting requests for F-1 students in these categories when filed together with Form I-765. The authority has also pointed out that it will reject premium processing requests for pending Form I-765 submitted before March 6 and will reject any premium processing application for an initial or other Form I-765 filed that is received before April 3.
Previously, the Biden Administration broadened the premium processing to include several important categories of green card applicants, especially those related to foreign students’ training.
The expansion of these categories is being rolled out in different phases beginning with the premium processing of EB-1 and EB-2 applications for Green cards.
There are approximately 185 types of US visas, which can be categorized into two groups; non-immigrant visas are issued for temporary visits under tourism, employment, studying, and business purposes, and immigrant visas are issued to people who will move to the United States for family reunification or under immigrant investor schemes.
Some of the main types of US visa includes visas for business visits (B1), tourism visits (B2), student visa (F1), dependents of F1 visa holders (F2), as well as visas for vocational purposes (M1).
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