Per a June 12 news release, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding premium processing for applicants filing a Form I-539 to change status to an F, J, or M visa. These applicants will also be able to file a Form I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service online. Premium processing will be available to those seeking to change status to F1, F2, J1, J2, M1, or M2.
According to USCIS, the availability of premium processing for these applicants will occur in phases.
Starting June 13, 2023, USCIS will accept both paper and online I-907 requests for applicants seeking a change of status to F, J, or M who already have a pending I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Starting June 26, 2023, USCIS will begin accepting both paper and online I-907 requests for applicants seeking a change of status to F, J, or M when filed together with their Form I-539.
USCIS warns that any premium processing requests received before the aforementioned dates will be rejected. It also reminds applicants that your I-907 must be submitted in the same format as your I-539. That is, if you submit a paper I-539, you must also submit a paper I-907; if the I-539 is submitted online, the I-907 must also be submitted online.
For these categories, applicants are required to submit their biometrics before premium processing can begin, even if USCIS has already accepted the I-907.
All of this is part of a continuing effort by USICS to increase efficiency and reduce wait times across the US immigration system, and is part of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act.
