On 12 June 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be expanding premium processing for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants. Applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, to change to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 non-immigrant status will now be eligible for premium processing. There will be a phased rollout of the expansion of premium processing for applicants seeking a change of status to F, M or J status: (i) 13 June 2023 - USCIS began accepting Form I-907 requests for premium processing filed by paper or online from applicants who seek to change their status (F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status) and who have a pending Form I-539; and (ii) 26 June 2023 - USCIS will begin accepting Form I-907 requests filed by paper or online for applicants who want to change their status (F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status) filed together with Form I-539. Premium processing requests in this category submitted prior to 26 June will be rejected. At this time, premium processing will be limited to change of status requests only and will not be available for extensions.
A Tax Alert prepared by EY Law LLP, and attached below, provides additional details.
