Also known as: Premium Processing
Definition
Paying an extra fee to get your USCIS application processed faster — not available for every form, but a real time-saver when it is.
Priority processing (officially called "premium processing") is a paid upgrade that gets USCIS to look at certain applications within 15 business days instead of the usual months-long timeline. You file Form I-907 along with an extra fee, and USCIS commits to either approving, denying, or issuing a Request for Evidence within that window.
If USCIS doesn't act within the deadline, they refund the premium processing fee and keep processing your case on an expedited basis. It's one of the rare areas where the government actually puts a clock on itself.
When standard processing times stretch to 6, 12, or even 18+ months, premium processing can be a game-changer. It's most commonly used for employment-based petitions (I-140, certain I-129s) and some EAD applications. Not every form type is eligible, and USCIS occasionally suspends it for certain categories.
related terms
The federal agency that handles green cards, citizenship, work permits, and most other immigration applications — they're who you're filing with.
The letter USCIS sends to update you on your case — it might be a receipt notice, approval, transfer, or request for more evidence.
The application to get your green card without leaving the U.S. — called "adjustment of status." One of the most important immigration forms.
Fingerprints, photos, and signatures collected at a USCIS appointment to verify your identity and run background checks. Most applicants need one.
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