USCIS announced last week  it will begin implementing its final phase of premium processing by permitting new (initial) Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, filed under the E13 multinational executive and manager classification (EB1C) or the E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver (NIW) to be filed with premium processing.  

Beginning January 30, 2023, USCIS will accept premium processing requests for: 

• All initial EB1C multinational executive and manager and E21 NIW petitions; and
• All pending EB1C multinational executive and manager and E21 NIW petitions. 

Moreover, USCIS announced that beginning in March 2023, it will expand premium processing to certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions who have a pending I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. In April 2023, it will also expand premium processing to initially filed I-765 applications for F-1 students. Specific dates for each group will be announced in February 2023. 

Lastly, USCIS also anticipates expanding premium processing for certain F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors with pending Form I-539 applications in May 2023. It anticipates expanding premium processing to certain students and exchange visitors who are filing initial Form I-539 applications in June 2023. An announcement will be made once their agency is ready to implement these phases.