F1 students [see category] may seek employment authorization under specific circumstances set forth in the regulations. An F1 student seeks employment authorization by filing the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Some, but not all, of the possible Form I-765 applications for F1 students are also eligible for the premium processing service. When available, applying for premium processing allows a petitioner or application to have his or her request adjudicated expeditiously for an additional fee. Below, we will take a brief look at which F1 student Forms I-765 are eligible for premium processing and the current premium processing fees. Premium processing requests are filed on the Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing.
There are five Form I-765 employment authorization application categories related to F1 students [link]. Of these, three are eligible for premium processing. See the current list below.
| I-765 Category | Description | Premium Processing Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| (c)(3)(A) | F-1 student, pre-completion Optional Practical Training | Yes |
| (c)(3)(B) | F-1 student, post-completion Optional Practical Training | Yes |
| (c)(3)(C) | F-1 student, 24-month extension for STEM students | Yes |
| (c)(3)(ii) | F-1 student, off-campus employment sponsored by a qualifying international organization | No |
| (c)(3)(iii) | F-1 student, off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship | No |
Forms I-765 related to pre- or post-completion Optional Practical Training [see article], including the 24-month STEM Optional Practical Training extension [see article], are eligible for premium processing.
On February 26, 2024, the USCIS increased the filing fee for Form I-907 requests for premium processing of F1 Forms I-765 [see news release]. The previous Form I-907 fee was $1,500 and the new and current premium processing fee is $1,685. As a general matter, filers should always consult the current USCIS form filing instructions to ensure that they are using the correct version of the applicable form and filing the form with the correct fee.
