How to Expedite a Work Permit In The United States

Expediting a U.S. Work Permit   

Each year thousands of work permits are processed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers. USCIS evaluates each case individually so that processing can take from several weeks up to 15 months. Long processing times are an issue for applicants who need their work permits approved urgently. 

Fortunately, USCIS provides a pathway to expedite a work permit. Applicants for a U.S. work permit can submit an expedite request. While not everyone is eligible to have their work permit expedited, the service is available for applicants who have extenuating circumstances that require them to obtain their work permit sooner rather than later. 

It’s important to note that an expedite request does not determine if a work permit is denied or approved. It simply prioritizes the application and puts it at the top of the case files to be processed. A USCIS officer will make the final decision on an application based on the materials submitted.  

This article will describe what constitutes a valid reason for submitting an expedite request and how to submit the request correctly. 

Valid Reasons For Expediting a Work Permit

Not every applicant for a U.S. work permit can expedite their application. USCIS will only approve expedite requests if they meet one or more official criteria. Each criteria has its own requirements, so applicants should be prepared to submit the appropriate documentation to prove their case meets one of the criteria. 

The following are all valid criteria for applicants who want to expedite their U.S. work permit application: 

1. Severe Financial Loss to a Person or Company
   

Applicants can proceed with expedited processing if they can prove a severe financial loss for an individual or a company caused by the processing time of the application. For example, if an organization or company can prove that it will lose a lot of money or have to let off several employees if a work permit is not granted sooner rather than later, the case may be eligible for expedited processing. An example might be a hospital that must expedite a doctor’s work permit to avoid staff lay-offs or a non-profit whose critical funding depends on having a specific board member join within a deadline.

2. Emergency or Urgent Humanitarian Reasons

USCIS might allow an applicant to expedite their work permit case is if there is an emergency or urgent humanitarian reason. Unfortunately, USCIS does not provide official guidelines for what constitutes an emergency or humanitarian crisis. Still, they will consider expediting requests that can prove the applicant is faced with a critical situation. This might include political instability, a severe medical emergency forcing the applicant to stay in the U.S., or a war breaking out in the applicant’s home country. 

3. Urgent Non-Profit Organization Request 

Nonprofits can file an expedite request for a work permit if they can demonstrate that the applicant plays a necessary and specific role within the organization that furthers the interests of the organization. They must be prepared to demonstrate that the applicant uniquely meets the requirements of that role. This might include a university professor teaching a specialized program or a religious figure leading social events.

4. U.S. Government Interests 

U.S. government agencies can request to expedite a work permit if it is in the national interest or the interest of public safety. They must prove a “substantive and urgent need” for USCIS to approve the request. For example, an expedited work permit application might be filed for a foreign national witness cooperating with the government on legal proceedings. 

5. Clear USCIS error.

In some cases, USCIS makes a mistake while processing a work permit application. If a clear error is caused by USCIS authorities and the applicant can prove that it will delay their application, they can file for expedited processing. This will only be applicable for critical mistakes like, for example, putting the wrong dates on the approved work permit that cuts the validity period short. 

Expediting Request Process for Work Permits

Once the applicant determines they meet one of the valid qualifying reasons, they can proceed with submitting their expediting request. The steps for this process are straightforward but must be followed precisely to ensure a successful outcome. Applicants may face increased complexity if they have specific requests or if USCIS needs them to provide more proof of the urgency of their situation. 

For most applicants, the followings steps can be taken to submit an expedite request for a U.S. work visa:  

1. Present the original work permit receipt. 

To apply for an expedite request, applicants must present the original receipt notice from their work permit application. This receipt would have been sent to the applicant two weeks after they filed their petition. If the receipt is missing, the applicant should urgently contact USCIS to recover it. 

2. Get in touch with USCIS. 

With the work permit receipt in hand, the applicant can then contact USCIS. The best way to get in touch with their offices is by calling 1-800-375-5283 or chatting with Emma, the USCIS digital chatbot. In the case of calling, an operator will direct the applicant to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 officer. It’s a good idea to prepare the necessary documentation beforehand and be ready to answer all questions from the officer. 

Applicants will be asked for contact information, including an email address and phone number, along with the receipt number. Once they have all the information they need, USCIS will place the expedite request on the applicant’s behalf and give them an expedite service request number. This number should be kept safe and accessible for future steps. 

3. Review the email listing the requested documentation.
   

Shortly after the expedite request is submitted, USCIS will email the applicant. This email will contain information about additional supporting documents or processing steps the applicant must take.  

Requested supporting documents must be combined into one PDF file of at most 15 pages and sent in one email. Only one email will be accepted in response to the request. It’s best to proceed quickly but carefully to ensure all documents are included and submitted promptly. 

4. Receive a decision on the expedite request. 

Expedite requests are processed quickly to ensure that the work permit process can proceed as soon as possible. It typically takes less than a month to receive an expedite request decision from USCIS. The decision will arrive to the original email or address the applicant put on their work permit application or the email or address provided when filing the expedite request.

5. Receive a decision on the original work permit application. 

If USCIS approves the expedite request, applicants can expect to receive their work permit in about a week.

Expedite requests are received and evaluated by USCIS. The speed of the decision will depend on the office's caseload, the application's complexity, and the applicant’s unique circumstances. However, if all documents are filed successfully, and the requirements are met, submitting an expedite request is a great option to accelerate a U.S. work permit application and receive an answer faster than usual.    

Work Permit Expedite Request Processing Times

USCIS provides estimated processing times for all the visa application types they handle. Applicants can only submit an expedite request if their case falls within the USCIS standard processing time for a U.S. work permit. Applicants can check the status of their work permit application by submitting a service request through the USCIS website or scheduling an appointment with USCIS representative. 

Expedite requests can take anywhere from a few days to over a week. Most requests are processed in around 15 days. Once the request is processed, applicants can expect to receive their work permit within a few weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Expediting A work Permit