USCIS Expedite, Contact Center or Online, Usually With Proof
To ask USCIS to speed up your case, contact the USCIS Contact Center or ask Emma, the virtual assistant, explain why you need faster processing and give your receipt number; if you have a USCIS online account, you can also send a secure message and choose “expedite” as the reason. USCIS says expedite requests generally require supporting documentation, and you generally can’t ask until you’ve received a receipt notice.
USCIS also says expedite decisions are within its sole discretion, and an expedite decision is not an approval or denial of your underlying request. This article follows USCIS’s expedite guidance: how to ask, what USCIS considers and what to check before you ask.
How to ask
USCIS explains (USCIS how to make an expedite request):
- Contact Center or Emma: contact the USCIS Contact Center or ask Emma, explain why you need faster processing and give your receipt number.
- Online account: if you have a USCIS online account, send a secure message and choose “expedite” as the reason for your inquiry.
- Supporting documents: expedite requests generally require supporting documentation; upload it to your online account when possible.
What USCIS considers
USCIS considers requests case by case; this list isn’t complete:
- Severe financial loss: severe financial loss to a company or person; it generally doesn’t count if it’s caused by your own failure to file or respond on time.
- Emergencies or humanitarian reasons: emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations.
- Nonprofits: nonprofit organizations designated by the IRS, when the request furthers U.S. cultural or social interests.
- Government interests: including cases the government identifies as urgent, such as public safety or national security.
- Clear USCIS error: a clear USCIS error that urgently needs to be corrected.
Before you ask
- Get your receipt first: you generally may ask only after you receive a receipt notice.
- Check processing times and status first: check current processing times and your case status, and finish anything pending, such as biometrics or submitting evidence.
- Travel documents: for a travel document, ask at least 45 days before you plan to leave the United States.
- Ask only once: make only one expedite request to avoid delays.
- Cases with premium processing: expedite requests generally aren’t considered when premium processing is available, except for nonprofit requests.
- Cases with their own process: adoption, appeals and motions, asylum, refugee matters, humanitarian parole, T and U status, requests pending abroad and others have their own processes.
For checking your cases in your USCIS online account, see Track Cases in Your USCIS Account, Add Each Receipt Number; for how early to file an EAD renewal, see EAD Renewals Lose Auto Extension, File Up to 180 Days Early; if your green card still hasn’t arrived, see No Green Card After 90 Days, Check Immigrant Fee and Address; for biometrics appointments, see Biometrics, Bring Notice and ID, Reschedule 12 Hours Ahead.
What this article did not check
- Whether your request will be granted: USCIS decides case by case at its discretion; this article doesn’t judge.
- Fees: the page doesn’t mention a fee for expedite requests, so this article doesn’t either; premium processing fees are a separate matter this article did not check.
- Contact Center phone number: the page doesn’t list a number, only a link to the Contact Center page.
Frequently asked questions
I just mailed my application. Can I ask for an expedite right away?
You generally have to wait until you receive a receipt notice.
What do I need to include?
USCIS says expedite requests generally require supporting documentation, such as documents that show the situation you describe; upload them to your online account when possible.
If my expedite is approved, is my case approved?
No. USCIS says an expedite decision is not an approval or denial of your request.
Can I keep calling to push it?
USCIS asks that you make only one expedite request to avoid delays.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-11-01.
- USCIS, How to Make an Expedite Request (page updated 2026-09-08):https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request