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Is Premium Processing Right for Me?
Update: November 2023 – With the current U.S. visa bulletin retrogression, premium processing will not affect overall immigration timelines to the U.S., therefore there is little benefit to request it at this time. The offering of premium processing will be dependent on visa bulletin updates and job offers.
When a U.S. immigration application is filed, it has taken 4-6 months for USCIS to complete an initial adjudication of the case. Almost always USCIS will issue an approval notice when a case was properly filed. In some cases, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) seeking additional information.
A question we are often asked by U.S. bound RNs is “Can I process my application using premium processing?”
The Pros and Cons of Premium Processing
The Pros
Premium processing cases are adjudicated within 15 days after receipt by USCIS instead of 4-6 months. This provides applicants with a greater sense of security knowing sooner rather than later that their application has been approved and their priority date has been established.
The Cons
To change your case to premium processing, you have to pay an additional fee which is currently $2,750 USD ($2,500 + $250 admin fee). Although your case will be adjudicated within 15 days, when you ultimately receive your visa is determined not by USCIS, but by the National Visa Center (NVC) and the U.S. Embassy where your visa interview will be held.
It is important to remember that in times of U.S. visa retrogression, premium processing may not help expedite the overall immigration timeline when considering all the steps involved from beginning to end. However, it works best when there is no U.S. visa retrogression and countries are current. If you are an applicant in need of additional information on this topic, please email your assigned Case Manager for more details.
