In a welcome modernization for self-petitioning immigrants, USCIS now accepts online filing of standalone Form I-140 petitions for the EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) categories. The online option, available through a USCIS online account, has rolled out over 2026 and gives petitioners a faster, more transparent alternative to mailing paper packages.
Under the online system, filers can submit a standalone I-140 electronically, and the platform accepts Form G-28 (the attorney or representative notice of appearance) alongside the petition. Petitioners typically receive a receipt number within days — a dramatic improvement over the weeks it could take for a mailed filing to be receipted.
There are important limits. Online filing currently applies only to standalone I-140s. If you are filing concurrently with Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status), the combined package must still be submitted by mail. And because EB-1A and NIW petitions often include hundreds of pages of evidence, large evidentiary exhibits may need to be split across multiple PDF uploads to satisfy file-size limits — something to plan for so your petition’s narrative stays organized.
On fees, the base I-140 filing fee is $715, and self-petitioners (which includes most EB-1A and NIW filers) must also pay the Asylum Program Fee — $600 for most petitioners, or $300 for individuals and small employers with 25 or fewer employees.
For NIW and EB-1A applicants, electronic filing reduces the risk of lost packages, provides immediate confirmation, and can shorten the front end of an already lengthy process. The key is assembling a well-structured petition with cleanly organized exhibits before you upload.
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Source: USCIS (lead via r/EB2_NIW)