EB-3 I-140 Premium Processing: 15 Business Days

Short answer: Yes. An EB-3 I-140 (skilled worker, professional and Other Workers) can use USCIS premium processing, requested by the employer on Form I-907 with the I-140 or afterward. USCIS currently aims to act on most EB-3 I-140s within 15 business days (45 business days for EB-1C and EB-2 NIW); check USCIS's premium processing page for the current wording. Premium processing shortens only the I-140 stage. It does not shorten PERM or remove the visa queue.

What does I-140 premium processing speed up?

It speeds up USCIS's review of the I-140 petition. It does not speed up the Department of Labor's PERM and does not remove the visa queue. After USCIS accepts the request, it issues an approval, denial, Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) within the committed window, counted in business days, not calendar days. Time frames can change, so confirm the current rule with the employer's attorney.

Who requests it?

The employer is the petitioner on the I-140, so the employer or its attorney files Form I-907 and decides whether to request premium processing. A worker cannot request it on an employer's petition. By law, the employer must pay all PERM labor-certification costs and cannot charge them to you. For the premium processing fee, see USCIS's current fee schedule; this article does not quote an amount.

Why do some employers choose it?

They want the I-140 approved sooner so the priority date can be retained and later steps can proceed. Note that premium processing does not lock the priority date; for PERM-based cases the priority date is the date the PERM was filed with the Department of Labor.

Do I still wait for the queue after premium processing?

Yes. EB-3 Other Workers has cutoff dates: in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin the final action date for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau is 1 January 2022, and the November 2026 bulletin sets 1 June 2022. If your priority date is not yet current, an approved I-140 generally cannot lead to the final green card step. When the queue is still years away, premium processing rarely changes the overall wait.

What if there is an RFE after premium processing?

When USCIS issues an RFE, the premium clock pauses and restarts once USCIS receives your complete response. Quality matters more than speed; see what to do if you get an RFE.

Last updated: 30 October 2026

Related articles: EB-3 process: PERM, I-140 to green card, EB-3 timeline, RFE response. You can also see the application process.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does premium processing cost?

USCIS sets the fee and it can change; check USCIS's current fee schedule. This article does not quote an amount, and the employer and its attorney decide whether to request it.

Can EB-3 Other Workers use premium processing?

Yes. I-140 petitions in the EB-3 skilled worker, professional and Other Workers categories can use premium processing with Form I-907.

Does the clock restart after an RFE?

It pauses and starts again once USCIS receives your complete response, not when the notice is issued.

Will premium processing get me my green card faster?

Not necessarily. It shortens only the I-140 stage. PERM and the visa queue are unaffected, so it has limited effect while the queue is long.

Does premium processing guarantee approval?

No. It affects only speed. The result still depends on whether the case meets the legal requirements.

Official sources

General information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules and the Visa Bulletin change; check the official sources above before you decide. Petitions are prepared and filed by the sponsoring employer’s licensed U.S. immigration attorney.