The lawyer advises not to apply for premium processing — they think it increases the likelihood of an RFE and denial. I’ve heard that if a petition went through an RFE, at the consular interview there’s a higher chance of being put under administrative processing (221(g)), and waiting times there can be 3–6 months or more. Has anyone nonetheless filed for premium processing despite the advice — did you get an RFE or did everything go smoothly?
No one has reliable statistics on this — every lawyer has their own sample drawn from their cases. I’ve heard from different people: some got approved after an RFE, and some had it go through quietly without premium processing. 221(g) — yeah, that one sometimes took six months or longer; I’d be more worried about that than the RFE itself )
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I filed without premium processing for the first time — I still got an RFE, so it’s not a sure thing.
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Exactly — an RFE isn’t a death sentence; I’ve heard of people replying and getting approved just fine. It’s nerves and a delay, not the end. 221(g) is different — people have waited 6–8 months via Warsaw; that’s actually scarier )
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no statistics show that premium processing results in more RFEs — that’s guesswork; lawyers just want more time. i wouldn’t assert for sure that the presence or absence of premium processing significantly increases or decreases the likelihood — the case is either convincing or not. and tying 221(g) to the petition’s RFE history — that’s not how it works; the consular officer applies their own criteria, independently of what was in USCIS.
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