October Relaunch: Opening on 1st October
Xender Facebook logo Linkedin logo Instagram logo Youtube logo
  (+1) 469 463 5461
WhatsApp
WhatsApp Message
Perplexity ChatGPT Claude Gemini

USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees for All Visas: Know the New Fees by Category

Perplexity ChatGPT Claude Gemini
USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees for All Visas: Know the New Fees by Category

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant change to premium processing fees, with increases that will take effect on March 1, 2026. These changes apply across both non-immigrant work visas and employment-based immigration petitions. If you depend on faster processing to meet career milestones or visa deadlines, the new fee structure directly affects your immigration planning and budget.

Premium processing is an optional service that allows petitioners to request an expedited decision from USCIS. Instead of waiting for standard processing times, which can stretch into months, USCIS guarantees action in approximately 15 calendar days.

Petitioners request this service by filing Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, along with the applicable fee. However, starting March 1, 2026, the fees for this service have increased to reflect inflation measured between June 2023 and June 2025 under the USCIS Stabilization Act.

Here, our EB-1A green card consultancy has covered everything you need to know about this fee hike.

Why the fee increase matters

USCIS adjusts certain fees every two years to keep pace with inflation and ensure the viability of premium services. The agency says this revenue supports the expedited service itself and broader adjudication operations like reducing backlogs. Our EB-1A Experts in immigration law note that planning for these changes will be very crucial for employers and applicants who rely on timely approvals.

Let’s take a look at a data-driven breakdown of the old versus the new fee schedule that takes effect on or after March 1, 2026:

These revisions mean most premium processing fees will rise by roughly 5 to 6 percent. For many applicants, like employers filing multiple petitions, the increases can add up quickly.

Who will be the most affected by the fee hike?

Nonimmigrant workers and employers

Employers petitioning for nonimmigrant workers in categories such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and other temporary worker visas will see the premium processing fee rise from $2,805 to $2,965 for most classifications. The smaller bump from $1,685 to $1,780 applies to H-2B and R-1 petitions. This increase affects high-demand employment visas that professionals and companies rely on for rapid hiring and project starts.

Employment-based immigrant petitions

Form I-140, the immigrant petition underlying many employment-based green card categories (EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and EB-3) also sees its premium processing fee rise to $2,965. This means a higher upfront cost for immigrants who are seeking to accelerate their green card petitions.

Students and temporary status holders

Individuals applying for extensions or changes of nonimmigrant status under J, F, or M categories will now need to pay $2,075 for premium processing. Similarly, eligible F-1 students filing for OPT or STEM OPT work authorization can expect the premium processing fee to increase to $1,780. These changes may influence international student planning, and likewise, employment start dates tied to OPT.

Planning ahead

In this context, it is important to note that USCIS will reject Form I-907 requests submitted on or after March 1, 2026, if they include the old fees. Petitioners should verify the correct fee before mailing their package or filing electronically to avoid delays or rejections.

This fee adjustment is part of a broader trend of rising immigration service costs. In late 2025, other USCIS filing fees for standard petitions and applications were also adjusted for inflation.

These updates are particularly relevant for professionals relying on timing, such as EB-1A green card seekers who may use premium processing to secure faster decisions that align with their job offers or priority timelines.

Our EB-1A consultants are always staying vigilant to take note of all the changes and updates in the international immigration landscape. For more personalized suggestions and queries regarding a Green card, reach out to us directly.

We wish you a smooth and stress-free immigration journey.

Source:https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-to-increase-premium-processing-fees

 

Recent Post
H-1B Workers May Lose Their 60-Day Safety Net: What the New DHS Proposal Means for Indian Professionals
H-1B Workers May Lose Their 60-Day Safety Net: What the New DHS Proposal Means for Indian Professionals

For around a decade, the 60-day grace period has quietly functioned as one of the most important safety valves in America's high-skilled immigration system. It is a modest cushion that gives H-1B workers time to find a new job or switch visa status. If nothing else, it is a great window to wind down their lives in the US after a layoff. That cushion may now be about to disappear. On August 6, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security sent a proposed rule titled "Eliminating the Discretionary 60-day Grace Period" (RIN 1615-AD22) to the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review.

U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Trump’s Immigration Detention Policy: What It Means for Immigrants
U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Trump’s Immigration Detention Policy: What It Means for Immigrants

U.S. immigration policy sets the headline yet again: a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the Trump administration’s immigration detention policy, which orders detention without bond for a broad group of noncitizens. This is the first time an appellate court has validated the policy after it was previously struck down by several lower federal courts.
US Tightens the Policies on Curricular Practical Training: What International Students Need to Know
US Tightens the Policies on Curricular Practical Training: What International Students Need to Know

Previously, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) has quietly functioned as one of the most valuable and most used pathways for international students in the United States to gain real-world work experience while still enrolled in school. That arrangement is now under the sharpest federal scrutiny it has faced in years, and the fallout is already rippling across campuses from Los Angeles to Chapel Hill.
New Immigration Rule in Texas Can Make Thousands of Licensed Workers Lose Jobs
New Immigration Rule in Texas Can Make Thousands of Licensed Workers Lose Jobs

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has passed a new rule that could pose a substantial threat to the jobs of thousands of licensed workers in the State. According to several news reports, the department has taken away the right of undocumented immigrants to earn licenses and certifications.

Trump Bans The Entire ‘Third World’ Migration: All Your Queries Answered
Trump Bans The Entire ‘Third World’ Migration: All Your Queries Answered

A big breaking news has erupted everywhere as Donald Trump vows to permanently pause all migration from Third World Countries. However, though the announcement is sharp and point-blank, much remains unclear so far.

UK About to End Visa Salary Rules for PhD Holders
UK About to End Visa Salary Rules for PhD Holders

UK government advisors are considering putting a stop to visa salary discounts for PhD holders. In defense of this decision, the advisers have argued that there is no evidence that people with doctorates tend to be paid less than other skilled workers.

WISA Act: A New Law to Reverse The H-1B Visa Fee & Other Restrictions?
WISA Act: A New Law to Reverse The H-1B Visa Fee & Other Restrictions?

The future of the H-1B visa program has once again become a central debate in Washington. A newly introduced immigration bill, called the Welcoming International Success Act (WISA), aims to reverse several controversial restrictions imposed on the program during the Trump administration. For global professionals who are tackling the H-1B visa FY 2027 landscape, the proposed law could significantly reshape the high-skilled immigration pathway.
Trump Wins Two Immigration Victories At Supreme Court
Trump Wins Two Immigration Victories At Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has backed Trump in two landmark immigration cases. Know about the legal decisions, and what they could mean for the U.S. immigration landscape.
The Official 39 Countries Under Trump’s Travel Ban: White House Issues Statement
The Official 39 Countries Under Trump’s Travel Ban: White House Issues Statement

In a major change in U.S. immigration policy, the Trump administration has expanded its travel ban to encompass 39 countries whose citizens face either full or partial restrictions on entry into the United States. Announced in a White House proclamation on December 16, 2025, this latest policy update marks one of the most ambitious iterations of travel curbs seen in recent decades.
U.S. State Department Announces Adoption Exception in Visa Suspension Policy: What It Means for Families & Immigration Applicants
U.S. State Department Announces Adoption Exception in Visa Suspension Policy: What It Means for Families & Immigration Applicants

In a recent update to U.S. immigration policy, the U.S. Department of State has announced a critical exception for international adoption cases amid its broader visa suspension framework. The change, issued in late January 2026, introduces a National Interest Exception (NIE) specifically for children being adopted by U.S. citizens.