The E-2 visa is the preferred choice among foreigners who wish to enter and work in the USA via their investment made into a US-based business. Many applicants need their visa application processed faster; USCIS provides a Premium Processing service for exactly these situations. But, this ease leads to a higher price tag. This article will help break down everything you want to know about the E-2 Visa Premium Processing fee — from how it works and its advantages, all that matters out of your funding.

1. What is the E-2 visa premium processing fee?

USCIS provides the E-2 visa premium processing fee service that lets applicants speed up visa petitions, for a fee. This fee is currently set at $2,500 (as of 2024) for the E-2 visa. This fee is a supplement to the regular E-2 Visa application fees, and really only shortcut your way through processing times.

Key points:

1. $2,500 fee only — This sum is in addition to any other fees associated with the E-2 Visa, including application fee and legal fees.
2. Non-refundable: No matter your visa is Denied or Delayed Due to RFE etc. the Premium Processing Fee not Return.
3. 15-day processing: For this fee, USCIS will review your completed E-2 Visa petition within 15 calendar days. Should USCIS not be able to fulfill this timeframe, your Premium Processing fee will obviously also be refunded, and they will keep working on the petition.

2. Details of the premium processing fee

The cost breakdown of Premium Processing is important to know, and you need a clear picture for when exactly it can end up being the multipliers on top of an already expensive visa:

Filing Form I-907:

You pay the $2,500 fee when you file Form I-907, Request for premium processing service. You can include this form with your original E-2 Visa application or anytime before your petition is granted.

What the Fee Covers:

The fee which is to be paid covers the cost of expediting your E-2 Visa petition. USCIS will put your employment authorization application at the front of the line, so it is either reviewed and adjudicated in those 15 days.
This fee does not include any additional services, i.e: response to an RFE or legal representation.

Additional Costs to Consider:

• Basic visa application fee for the E-2: standard (This is not a premium processing charge).
• Legal costs: If you choose to hire an immigration lawyer for your application, their costs will be in addition to the Premium Processing charge.
• Other administrative costs: You may incur other expenses, such as translation services (if necessary), document certification or courier charges.

3. Payment of the E-2 visa premium processing fee

The payment procedure for paying the Premium Processing fee is simple, but you must make sure that you follow these instructions to prevent your processing from any delay.

Payment methods

USCIS allows more than one payment method, including checks accompanying money orders and also credit cards. Make sure your payment is real and you have enough money to withdraw.

You can only pay by check and made payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”

Submitting the fee

When submitting an E-2 visa premium processing fee request, include the payment with Form I-907. If you have previously filed a separate Form I-907 after your initial E-2 visa application, please provide a copy of the receipt notice from that earlier petition to ensure that the payment is accurately associated with your current request.

Processing the payment

When USCIS accepts your payment, then they will provide a Receipt Notice. This notice will provide you with an update on the status of your Premium Processing request and confirm that our 15-day processing clock has started.

When E-2 visa premium processing fee is a smart choice

1. Urgent business needs: If you have to travel quickly to the U.S. to handle or open your business, then fast processing is important so that it allows you to meet its timelines.
2. Expedited F-3 processing: This will be helpful for applicants whose deadlines are short, such as expiring Visas or Contracts, or because of urgent reasons of a personal nature that require quick I-129 approval.
3. Peace of mind: Be assured that your application will be fast-tracked, which can be an assurance, particularly when plans depend on rapid visa approval.