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USCIS Continues Suspension of Premium Processing for R-1 Religious Workers

Murali Bashyam

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced today that the suspension of premium processing for nonimmigrant religious worker (R-1) cases will continue at least until January 7, 2009.  The original suspension of premium processing for these cases was announced on January 4, 2008.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced today that the suspension of premium processing for nonimmigrant religious worker (R-1) cases will continue at least until January 7, 2009.  The original suspension of premium processing for these cases was announced on January 4, 2008.

Premium processing is a faster processing service for certain types of cases.  By paying an additional $1000 to the Immigration Service, applicants can get their cases processed within 15 days.  USCIS originally suspended premium processing for religious worker cases since it could no longer guarantee a 15 day turnaround as a result of extensive background checks and the time it takes to process them. 

As more information becomes available, we will post it here at www.bashyamspiro.com.