USCIS extends premium processing to E-3 petitioners

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Wednesday it would extend premium processing to E-3 nonimmigrant visa petitioners.

Key Points:

• Effective today, those submitting a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker requesting change or extension of status to E-3 classification can request USCIS’ premium processing service.
• Premium processing allows petitioners to pay an additional filing fee in return for expedited adjudication, generally within 15 days.

Additional Information: The E-3 visa classification is only available to Australian nationals in a specialty occupation. Australian nationals who are outside of the country can apply for E-3 nonimmigrant visas directly through the U.S. State Department; those inside the United States can do so by filing Form I-129 with USCIS. E-3 petitioners must (1) be nationals of Australia; (2) have a legitimate offer of employment in the United States; (3) have the required academic or qualifying credentials; and (4) be filling a position that qualifies as a specialty occupation.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.