The United States has announced extension of premium processing for work authorisation for certain categories of international students, said the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in a statement adding the move is likely to benefit a lot of Indian students who come to study in the US STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
"US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and wish to request a premium processing upgrade," the statement read.
According to the official statement, the premium processing begins March 6 and for some other categories, it would start from April 3. The extension of premium processing for certain F-1 students will occur in phases and students requesting premium processing should not file before these dates, said USCIS.
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The online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, is now also available to F-1 students in these categories. USCIS continues to accept the latest paper version of this form by mail.
"The availability of premium processing for certain F-1 students, in addition to the ease of online filing, will streamline the immigration experience for a great many international students," said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou, quoted by news agency ANI.
Setting up of a USCIS online account will involve no charges and will offer a variety of features, including the ability to communicate with USCIS through a secure inbox and respond to Requests for Evidence online," the statement read.
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"Applicants who previously filed a paper Form I-765 and wish to file Form I-907 online to request premium processing should reference the USCIS Account Access Notice they received for the Online Access Code and details on how to link their paper-filed cases to their online account, or there will not be able to file Form I-907 online and will need file a paper Form I-907 with the Chicago lockbox," the statement read.
"As previously announced, the expansion of premium processing is part of USCIS' efforts to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall immigration system, and is being implemented in a phased approach," the statement added.