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Should You Use Premium Processing? Strategy Guide

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Quick Facts

Premium processing (Form I-907) costs $2,805 and guarantees USCIS action within:

  • EB1A: 15 business days vs. 16.5 months regular
  • EB2 NIW: 45 business days vs. 17.5 months regular

The True Cost of Waiting

Waiting 16-17 months creates:

  • Daily stress from checking case status repeatedly
  • Career paralysis - unable to make long-term decisions
  • Policy risk - immigration rules can change
  • Lost opportunities - job offers, promotions may pass by

Critical for China/India-Born Applicants

If denied after 18 months (regular) vs. 3-9 weeks (premium), the priority date difference means:

  • 3-6 additional years waiting for green card due to visa backlogs
  • Lost chance to refile stronger case with earlier priority date

Debunking the RFE Myth

Myth: "Premium processing increases RFE chances because officers lack time to review properly."

Reality: This is false because:

  • Each case gets the same review time (~few hours) regardless of processing speed
  • Officers don't "hold" cases for months in regular processing
  • Issuing RFEs takes MORE work than approvals/denials
  • USCIS profits from premium processing - why create barriers?

The 4-7% Statistics: Some firms report higher RFE rates with premium, but this is correlation not causation. Likely explanation: people with weaker cases rush to file with premium due to urgency.

Should You Use Premium Processing?

Use Premium If:

  • You can afford $2,805 without strain
  • You need certainty for planning
  • Your visa is expiring
  • You're from China/India (priority date matters)
  • The stress of waiting affects you

Skip Premium Only If:

  • $2,805 causes financial hardship
  • Your child is near 21 (see below)
  • You're in stable status and not in rush

Special Situations

Alternative Filing Strategy

Some firms suggest filing regular first, then adding premium later via I-907. No evidence this matters, but it's an option.

Child Age Protection (The ONE Reason to Skip Premium)

If your child is near 21, regular processing helps under CSPA:

  • Processing time is deducted from child's age
  • Example: 21.5 years (child's age when green card becomes available, potentially years after your I-140 approval for China/India-born) - 16.5 months processing = 20 years (still eligible)
  • Can save your child from aging out

Bottom Line

For most applicants who can afford it, premium processing is worth $2,805 because:

  • You save 15-17 months of uncertainty
  • You protect your priority date if denied
  • You can make life decisions sooner
  • The RFE myth is baseless

The real question: Is 15-17 months of your life worth $2,805?

Processing times as of September 2025. Check current processing times at USCIS Processing Times