Expedite Requests: When and How to Ask USCIS to Speed Up Your Case
USCIS can expedite certain cases in emergencies. Here's what qualifies, how to request, and realistic expectations.
Quick Answer
USCIS may expedite cases for severe financial loss to company or person, emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, nonprofit organizations furthering cultural/social interests, U.S. government interests, or USCIS error causing delay. Request via USCIS Contact Center (1-800-375-5283), Emma chatbot, or written letter to service center. Include evidence supporting expedite reason. Approval not guaranteed - most expedite requests are denied. Premium processing ($2,805) is guaranteed expedite for eligible petitions.
Key Takeaways
Expedite available for genuine emergencies only
Criteria: financial loss, humanitarian emergency, government interest, USCIS error
Request through USCIS Contact Center, Emma, or written letter
Must provide evidence supporting expedite criteria
Most requests are denied - not routine option
Premium processing is guaranteed alternative for eligible cases
Key Takeaways
Expedite available for genuine emergencies only
Criteria: financial loss, humanitarian emergency, government interest, USCIS error
Request through USCIS Contact Center, Emma, or written letter
Must provide evidence supporting expedite criteria
Most requests are denied - not routine option
Premium processing is guaranteed alternative for eligible cases
Table of Content
USCIS Expedite Criteria
USCIS considers expedite requests meeting specific criteria:
1. Severe financial loss to company or person
Company loses significant contract without worker
Person facing imminent financial hardship
Must be severe, not routine business inconvenience
2. Emergency or urgent humanitarian situation
Medical emergency requiring travel
Death in family abroad
Natural disaster affecting applicant
Safety concerns in home country
3. Nonprofit organization request
Organization's mission furthers cultural or social interests
Urgent need for worker to fulfill mission
Organization must make the request
4. U.S. government interest
Case involves government project
Agency requests expedite
National security or defense related
5. USCIS error
USCIS made mistake causing delay
Your case should have been processed already
Documentation of error required
Criteria | Example | Evidence Needed |
|---|---|---|
Financial loss | Contract lost without worker | Contract, financial projections |
Humanitarian | Parent dying abroad | Medical records, relationship proof |
Government interest | Defense project | Agency letter |
USCIS error | Wrong service center transfer | Case history documentation |
How to Request Expedite
Method 1: USCIS Contact Center
Call 1-800-375-5283
Request expedite, explain criteria
Agent creates service request
USCIS reviews and responds
Method 2: Emma Chatbot
Visit uscis.gov, click "Ask Emma"
Type "expedite"
Follow prompts to submit request
Provide case details and reason
Method 3: Written Request
Write letter to service center processing your case
Include receipt number, your information
Detailed explanation of expedite criteria
Supporting evidence
Send via certified mail
Written requests allow most comprehensive evidence submission but take longer to process.
Evidence for Expedite Requests
Financial loss evidence:
Contracts showing deadlines
Financial statements
Letters from clients threatening to cancel
Business projections showing losses
Medical emergency evidence:
Doctor's letter stating diagnosis and prognosis
Medical records
Explanation of why travel is urgent
Relationship proof to ill person
USCIS error evidence:
Timeline of case processing
Documentation of error (wrong transfer, lost documents)
Prior communications with USCIS
Weak evidence = denied request. Be specific and document thoroughly.
Realistic Expectations
Most expedite requests are denied. USCIS receives thousands of requests and approves only genuine emergencies.
Commonly denied:
"I need to travel for vacation"
"My job offer might expire"
"Processing is taking too long"
"Other people's cases are being processed faster"
More likely approved:
"My parent is dying and I need to travel"
"Contract worth $500,000 will be lost without this worker"
"USCIS transferred my case to wrong office 6 months ago"
Don't file expedite request for routine delays. It wastes USCIS resources and your time.
Premium Processing Alternative
For eligible petitions (I-129 and I-140), premium processing guarantees 15 business day processing for $2,805 fee.
Premium processing available for:
H-1B petitions
L-1 petitions
O-1 petitions
I-140 immigrant petitions
Some other employment-based petitions
Not available for:
I-485 adjustment of status
I-765 EAD applications
N-400 citizenship applications
Most family-based petitions
If premium processing is available for your case, it's more reliable than expedite request.
Congressional Inquiry Alternative
If case exceeds normal processing times and expedite is denied, contact your congressional representative.
Process:
Contact representative's office
Complete privacy release form
Provide case details
Congressional staffer submits inquiry to USCIS
USCIS typically responds within 30-60 days
Congressional inquiries don't guarantee faster processing but often move stalled cases forward.
After Expedite Decision
If approved:
Case moves to front of queue
Processing completed within days to weeks
Not instantaneous but faster than normal
If denied:
Case continues normal processing
Can submit new expedite request if circumstances change
Consider congressional inquiry or other options
USCIS Expedite Criteria
USCIS considers expedite requests meeting specific criteria:
1. Severe financial loss to company or person
Company loses significant contract without worker
Person facing imminent financial hardship
Must be severe, not routine business inconvenience
2. Emergency or urgent humanitarian situation
Medical emergency requiring travel
Death in family abroad
Natural disaster affecting applicant
Safety concerns in home country
3. Nonprofit organization request
Organization's mission furthers cultural or social interests
Urgent need for worker to fulfill mission
Organization must make the request
4. U.S. government interest
Case involves government project
Agency requests expedite
National security or defense related
5. USCIS error
USCIS made mistake causing delay
Your case should have been processed already
Documentation of error required
Criteria | Example | Evidence Needed |
|---|---|---|
Financial loss | Contract lost without worker | Contract, financial projections |
Humanitarian | Parent dying abroad | Medical records, relationship proof |
Government interest | Defense project | Agency letter |
USCIS error | Wrong service center transfer | Case history documentation |
How to Request Expedite
Method 1: USCIS Contact Center
Call 1-800-375-5283
Request expedite, explain criteria
Agent creates service request
USCIS reviews and responds
Method 2: Emma Chatbot
Visit uscis.gov, click "Ask Emma"
Type "expedite"
Follow prompts to submit request
Provide case details and reason
Method 3: Written Request
Write letter to service center processing your case
Include receipt number, your information
Detailed explanation of expedite criteria
Supporting evidence
Send via certified mail
Written requests allow most comprehensive evidence submission but take longer to process.
Evidence for Expedite Requests
Financial loss evidence:
Contracts showing deadlines
Financial statements
Letters from clients threatening to cancel
Business projections showing losses
Medical emergency evidence:
Doctor's letter stating diagnosis and prognosis
Medical records
Explanation of why travel is urgent
Relationship proof to ill person
USCIS error evidence:
Timeline of case processing
Documentation of error (wrong transfer, lost documents)
Prior communications with USCIS
Weak evidence = denied request. Be specific and document thoroughly.
Realistic Expectations
Most expedite requests are denied. USCIS receives thousands of requests and approves only genuine emergencies.
Commonly denied:
"I need to travel for vacation"
"My job offer might expire"
"Processing is taking too long"
"Other people's cases are being processed faster"
More likely approved:
"My parent is dying and I need to travel"
"Contract worth $500,000 will be lost without this worker"
"USCIS transferred my case to wrong office 6 months ago"
Don't file expedite request for routine delays. It wastes USCIS resources and your time.
Premium Processing Alternative
For eligible petitions (I-129 and I-140), premium processing guarantees 15 business day processing for $2,805 fee.
Premium processing available for:
H-1B petitions
L-1 petitions
O-1 petitions
I-140 immigrant petitions
Some other employment-based petitions
Not available for:
I-485 adjustment of status
I-765 EAD applications
N-400 citizenship applications
Most family-based petitions
If premium processing is available for your case, it's more reliable than expedite request.
Congressional Inquiry Alternative
If case exceeds normal processing times and expedite is denied, contact your congressional representative.
Process:
Contact representative's office
Complete privacy release form
Provide case details
Congressional staffer submits inquiry to USCIS
USCIS typically responds within 30-60 days
Congressional inquiries don't guarantee faster processing but often move stalled cases forward.
After Expedite Decision
If approved:
Case moves to front of queue
Processing completed within days to weeks
Not instantaneous but faster than normal
If denied:
Case continues normal processing
Can submit new expedite request if circumstances change
Consider congressional inquiry or other options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long for USCIS to respond to expedite request?
Varies. Phone/Emma requests get initial response within days. Decision on whether to expedite can take 1-4 weeks.
Can I expedite EAD application?
Expedite request possible but rarely approved for EAD. USCIS considers severe financial loss (can't work without EAD).
What if my expedite is denied?
Case continues normal processing. Can resubmit if circumstances change or new evidence available.
Is premium processing same as expedite?
No. Premium processing is paid service guaranteeing 15-day processing. Expedite is request based on emergency criteria with no guarantee.
How many times can I request expedite?
No limit, but repeated requests without new circumstances will be denied.
Table of Contents
Quick Resources
Explore Topics
0%
Explore Topics
0%