An apparatus (100) and method (200) for enabling a wireless communication device operating during access class restrictions to receive an incoming emergency call for a predefined time period are provided. After the wireless communication device (100) makes an emergency call to an emergency service center such as police (216), the wireless communication device (100) is enabled to respond to a return call from the emergency service center (218). The wireless communication device accepts the return call based upon the emergency access class information (408) and the priority level (410) of the return call.