- USCIS warned on September nineteenth, twenty twenty-six that no private party can guarantee faster green card or visa processing.
- The agency said premium processing costs two thousand nine hundred sixty-five dollars for many Form I-140 cases and remains limited.
- Eligible filings can receive faster action, but USCIS may still issue Requests for Evidence, denials, or intent-to-deny notices.
USCIS warned immigrants on September 19, 2026, not to pay private people, businesses or websites that promise a guaranteed faster green card, visa or work permit. The agency said claims of special government access do not create a shortcut through an immigration case.
Applicants should be wary of anyone seeking money in exchange for speed. The warning covers websites, businesses and individuals who say they can influence the government or move a case ahead of other filings.
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The agency put its message plainly:
“No one has special connections to speed up cases.”
The warning directs applicants toward official information and authorized legal-service providers. It also targets “too good to be true” claims that promise a result in exchange for payment.
The announcement does not identify a fee that applicants should pay to a private intermediary. Paying such a person does not purchase an immigration approval or a faster adjudication.
A separate government service does exist. Premium processing applies only to certain forms and categories, and it requires the agency to take an action within a published period. It does not require approval.
That action can be an approval, a denial, a Request for Evidence, or a Notice of Intent to Deny. Form I-907 carries a separate government fee, and paying it buys faster action on an eligible filing rather than a favorable decision.
The lawful service speeds action, not the decision
The service covers specific categories of Form I-129, Form I-140, Form I-765 and Form I-539. The filing windows use business days, not calendar days.
| Filing or category | Fee or typical timeframe | Possible result |
|---|---|---|
| Many eligible Form I-140 categories | $2,965; typically 15 business days | Approval, denial, Request for Evidence, or Notice of Intent to Deny |
| Eligible Form I-765 cases | $1,780; typically 30 business days | Agency action, not guaranteed approval |
| Many eligible Form I-129 categories | Typically 15 business days | Agency action, not guaranteed approval |
| Certain Form I-140 classifications, including EB-1C and EB-2 NIW | Typically 45 business days | Agency action, not guaranteed approval |
| Specific Form I-539 categories | Eligibility depends on the filing category | Agency action under the applicable timeframe |
The $2,965 amount took effect March 1, 2026, according to 2026 attorney guidance cited in the research. The $1,780 figure applies to eligible Form I-765 cases.
A private promise is not a government filing
The agency’s warning separates two very different claims. A legitimate filing asks the government to act within a stated period. A scam claim asks for money in exchange for access, influence or a promised outcome.
Businesses and websites may advertise that they can “guarantee” faster results. The agency says those promises are false and may be fraudulent. No private payment changes the government’s requirements for an eligible case.
Applicants should also treat claims of special access as a warning sign. The agency specifically cautioned against people who say they have connections inside the government.
The warning does not change the underlying eligibility rules for expedited filings. A form must qualify for the service, and the case remains subject to the agency’s review.
Applicants can check the filing before paying
Before sending money to a third party, applicants can take three steps:
- Confirm whether the form and category qualify for Form I-907 service through official government information.
- Check the published government fee and business-day period for that filing.
- Use an authorized legal-service provider when professional assistance is needed, rather than a person promising special access.
The eligible forms include employment-related filings and certain other categories, but eligibility varies by form. A filing that qualifies for faster action still may receive a Request for Evidence, a denial or a Notice of Intent to Deny.
Applicants should keep the distinction clear when reviewing advertisements or offers. A government fee can request faster action where permitted. It cannot buy approval, and a private intermediary cannot create a faster route by claiming connections.
Published fees and processing timeframes are subject to change. Applicants should verify current information through official government channels before filing or paying for an expedited request.
