Premium processing for I-140: what it actually speeds up (and doesn't)

Paid for premium processing on my I-140 and want to share what it actually changed, since I went in with a slightly fuzzy understanding of its scope. What it does: guarantees USCIS acts on your petition (approval, denial, or an RFE/NOID) within a set processing window, rather than the standard queue's much less predictable timeline. That's a real, meaningful benefit if you value certainty about when you'll get a decision. What it doesn't do: make your case stronger, change the underlying evidentiary standard, or protect you from an RFE. If your evidence has real gaps, premium processing just gets you a faster RFE, not a faster approval you wouldn't otherwise have gotten. I'd treat it as a timeline tool, not a strategy tool — worth it if speed and certainty matter to your situation, not a substitute for a well-built case. One thing I appreciated in hindsight: even though I got an RFE (not related to premium processing itself, just genuine gaps my attorney and I found later), knowing the RFE would come relatively quickly, rather than after a long unpredictable wait, made planning the response easier.