USCIS Announced Reinstatement of Premium Processing for certain I-140 Petitions beginning June 29, 2009!

In what will benefit many I-140 beneficiaries in this era of economic uncertainty and job insecurity, the USCIS will again accept Premium Processing Requests as of June 29, 2009 for the following I-140 Petitions:

• EB1--Extraordinary Ability

• EB1--Outstanding Professors and Researchers

• EB2--Members of the Professions with Advanced Degrees not seeking a National Interest Waiver

• EB3--Skilled Workers and Professionals

Under the Premium Processing Service (PP), USCIS guarantees petitioners that for an extra $1000 filing fee, it will issue a decision within 15 calendar days of receipt. What you get for the $1000 is access by email and phone to an officer and the certainty of a 15 days processing time.

This is a welcome gesture by USCIS for those seeking to lock in a priority date and who seek to port to another job in some instances.