Spartan Posted November 2, 2020 Report Posted November 2, 2020 A new bill signed into effect has allowed USCIS to exponentially increase the fee charged for premium processing. The cost for premium processing for eligible immigration applicants will rise from $1,440 to $2,500. This fee hike is applicable to those immigration benefits that were eligible for premium processing on or before August 1, 2020. Called the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, this bill not only hiked the processing fee but also increased the number of days it would take to process each application – 15 business days instead of the current 15 calendar days. Additionally, this new bill expands premium processing to cover all employment-based nonimmigrant visas and green cards, as well as H-4 and Employment Authorization Documentation (EAD) applications. Premium processing will allow the expedited adjudication of all employment based petitions for the additional fees. Given the excessive backlog in processing, this comes as a great news for all those stuck in the processing queue. USCIS had proposed a filing fee hike across several immigration petition categories that was blocked by a federal judge. Due to a quickly depleting budget, this was USCIS’ way of mitigating the agency’s expenses. Who Is Eligible For The Expanded Premium Processing? According to the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 USCIS extends the premium processing facility to the following: Form I-140 petitions filed on behalf of EB-1 Multinational Managers and Executives, as well as those filing for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) for employment-based green cards; Form I-765 applications for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) work authorization; Form I-539 applications filed by dependents in H-4, L-2, E-3D, E-2, O-3, P-4, R-2 status (by spouses and children of individuals in H-1B, L-1, E-3, E-2, O-1, P and R-1 status); Form I-539 applications filed for individuals seeking to change status to F or M (student) status or J (cultural and educational exchange) status, and Any other immigration benefit type deemed appropriate by the Secretary. New Increased Premium Processing Fee Structure For immigration petitions that will become eligible for premium processing services, USCIS will implement the new rules according to the following: Immigration Category Proposed Fee Structure Processing Times EB-1, Multinational Managers and Executives Cannot exceed $2,500 Cannot exceed 45 days EB-2 NIW Petitioners Cannot exceed $2,500 Cannot exceed 45 days Change of Status for F, J and M Cannot exceed $1,750 Cannot exceed 30 days H4 EAD Cannot exceed $1,500 Cannot exceed 30 days Change of Status for dependents (H-4, L-2, E-3D, E-2, O-3, P-4, R-2) Cannot exceed $1,750 Cannot exceed 30 days Benefits Of Expanding Premium Processing Benefit While the costs are high, there are several categories of petitioners who will benefit from having the option of expediting their petition adjudication. H4-EAD Earlier, USCIS has a 90-day limit on processing the employment authorization document (EAD). Due to several factors and the current pandemic, the processing times for EADs have gone from six months to longer in some service centers With premium processing available, EAD petitioners have a better chance at seeking employment sooner. Students Moving To F1 visas An expedited decision on change of status allows many students to attend school in a timely fashion without having to wait over a year for a decision. SSN & Driver’s License Those seeking identification documents or requiring a drivers’ license, will get it sooner once their immigration status is established.: Higher Fees While the expansion of premium processing to E-1, E-2, H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, R-1, TN, EB-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability, EB-1 for outstanding professors and researchers, EB-2 and EB-3 professionals as well as other employment based petitioners and their dependents will benefit through faster adjudication, the substantial fee hike is bound to negatively impact the petitioning employer who bears the brunt of the added cost. Quote
rajahmundry_bullodu Posted November 2, 2020 Report Posted November 2, 2020 sleep ekkuviandi neku. deeni meeda already disco aipoindi. very old news 1 Quote
dasara_bullodu1 Posted November 2, 2020 Report Posted November 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, Spartan said: @Anta Assamey Companies ki bokka padithe scope increase chestaru kada as usual Quote
Spartan Posted November 2, 2020 Author Report Posted November 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, rajahmundry_bullodu said: sleep ekkuviandi neku. deeni meeda already disco aipoindi. very old news ante already H4 EAd eligible for premium aa.... thanks @rajahmundry_bullodu Quote
Spartan Posted November 2, 2020 Author Report Posted November 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, dasara_bullodu1 said: Companies ki bokka padithe scope increase chestaru kada as usual yeah makes sense Quote
rajahmundry_bullodu Posted November 2, 2020 Report Posted November 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, Spartan said: ante already H4 EAd eligible for premium aa.... thanks @rajahmundry_bullodu in process lo undi raju garu. changes approve ayyayi. USC*s vadu exact details inka release cheyaledu. so db prajalu and their wives are anxiously waiting. Quote
Spartan Posted November 2, 2020 Author Report Posted November 2, 2020 1 minute ago, rajahmundry_bullodu said: in process lo undi raju garu. changes approve ayyayi. USC*s vadu exact details inka release cheyaledu. so db prajalu and their wives are anxiously waiting. mari wording endi...already bill in effect antunnadu.. A new bill signed into effect .... Additionally, this new bill expands premium processing to cover all employment-based nonimmigrant visas and green cards, as well as H-4 and Employment Authorization Documentation (EAD) applications. Quote
rajahmundry_bullodu Posted November 2, 2020 Report Posted November 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Spartan said: mari wording endi...already bill in effect antunnadu.. A new bill signed into effect .... Additionally, this new bill expands premium processing to cover all employment-based nonimmigrant visas and green cards, as well as H-4 and Employment Authorization Documentation (EAD) applications. aunu dude. bill allowed the expansion of premium processing. now usc*s has to provide details as to what costs are and when will they start accepting. so who knows when they will release that. Quote
Spartan Posted November 2, 2020 Author Report Posted November 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, rajahmundry_bullodu said: aunu dude. bill allowed the expansion of premium processing. now usc*s has to provide details as to what costs are and when will they start accepting. so who knows when they will release that. appati varaku ...wait cheyadame ana maata.. hopefully they release the guidance soon.....waiting ikkada.. Quote
rajahmundry_bullodu Posted November 2, 2020 Report Posted November 2, 2020 3 minutes ago, Spartan said: appati varaku ...wait cheyadame ana maata.. hopefully they release the guidance soon.....waiting ikkada.. yeah 6-9 months processing time ante kastam kada. hope they do it soon Quote
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