USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees Effective March 1, 2026

New Fee Schedule Takes Effect

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented increased premium processing fees for certain employment-based applications and petitions, with the new rates taking effect on March 1, 2026. This adjustment follows a final rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is in accordance with the USCIS Stabilization Act, which authorizes biennial fee adjustments to account for inflation. The increases reflect the rate of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025.

The revised fees apply to requests for expedited processing submitted via Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, and impact a range of immigration filings. USCIS has emphasized that any requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the updated fee amount; submissions with incorrect fees will be rejected and returned, potentially causing significant delays.

Affected Applications and New Costs

The fee increases vary depending on the specific form and classification. Key changes include:

• For Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, specifically for H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status, the fee rises from $1,685 to $1,780.
• For all other eligible Form I-129 classifications, such as E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2, the premium processing fee increases from $2,805 to $2,965.
• For Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, covering various employment-based classifications (E11, E12, E13, E21, E31, E32, EW3), the fee also increases from $2,805 to $2,965.
• Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for categories including F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, and M-2, sees an increase from $1,965 to $2,075.
• For Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, specifically for certain eligible OPT and STEM-OPT classifications, the fee moves from $1,685 to $1,780.

Purpose of the Fee Adjustment

USCIS states that the revenue generated from these fee increases will be utilized to enhance various aspects of its operations. These include providing premium processing services, making improvements to adjudication processes, responding to adjudication demands, and addressing existing processing backlogs. The funds will also contribute to the overall funding of USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.

The agency's authority to adjust these fees biennially is a direct result of the USCIS Stabilization Act, ensuring that the real dollar value of the premium processing service is maintained against inflationary pressures. Employers and applicants are advised to factor these new costs into their budgeting and filing strategies to avoid disruptions in their immigration processes.