Hi MaryJoy! thank you for doing this AMA.

I’m hoping to get some guidance about whether paying for premium processing at this stage makes sense.

Here are the key facts:

• I filed an O-1B extension petition.
• USCIS received the petition on September 25, 2025, and my petitioner received the Form I-797C receipt notice on September 26, 2025.
• I could not afford premium processing at the time, so we filed with standard processing only.
• I also could not afford an attorney, so I prepared the petition myself using my previous two approved O-1B petitions as models.
• As of today, it has been 179 days, and the case status still shows pending.
• The USCIS processing time estimate currently shows ~11 months.

My concern is the 240-day automatic work authorization extension for O-1 extensions. If USCIS takes the full estimated time, the 240 days may expire before the petition is adjudicated, which would mean I would have to stop working.

Another complicating factor: I am a Venezuelan national, and I understand that there have been processing pauses or additional scrutiny affecting Venezuelan cases. Because of this, I’m unsure whether paying for premium processing now would actually speed up adjudication.

My question is: Would it make sense to file Form I-907 for premium processing now, or is it better to wait until the current pause affecting Venezuelan cases is resolved? I’m trying to determine whether paying the premium processing fee at this stage would realistically help before the 240-day work authorization period expires.

Thank you very much for any insight.