USCIS has announced an upcoming increase to its premium processing fees, set to take effect March 1, 2026. The change comes as part of a regular adjustment required by law to account for inflation and the rising cost of providing expedited adjudication services.

Premium processing is an optional USCIS service that lets applicants and petitioners pay an additional fee to move their cases to the front of the line. When you request premium processing via Form I-907, USCIS guarantees faster review, typically within 15 calendar days for many visas, in exchange for this supplemental fee.

Here’s what’s changing and how it may affect you if you plan to file or upgrade your case in 2026.

Why Are Fees Increasing?

The DHS sets the premium processing fee using a formula tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). This helps ensure fee amounts keep pace with inflation between defined periods. Under the law, USCIS adjusts these fees every two years, and the latest inflation data, from June 2023 to June 2025, resulted in higher costs for the service.

Simply put,  the premium processing service will cost more starting March 1, 2026 and any Form I-907 postmarked on or after that date must include the updated fee.

New Premium Processing Fees

Here’s an overview of the updated fee structure that USCIS has finalized:

  • Form I-129 (Nonimmigrant Worker Petitions) – most categories
     (e.g., H-1B, L-1A/B, O-1, TN, E-2)
     Old Fee: $2,805 → New Fee: $2,965 
  • Form I-140 (Immigrant Worker Petitions)
     (employment-based green cards, including EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)
     Old Fee: $2,805 → New Fee: $2,965 
  • Form I-129 (H-2B & R-1)
     Old Fee: $1,685 → New Fee: $1,780 
  • Form I-765 (Employment Authorization)
     (e.g., OPT, STEM OPT)
     Old Fee: $1,685 → New Fee: $1,780 
  • Form I-539 (Change/Extension of Nonimmigrant Status)
     (F, J, M categories)
     Old Fee: $1,965 → New Fee: $2,075 

Note: USCIS continues to require that the correct fee be submitted with the Form I-907; filings containing incorrect fees will be rejected, leading to returned packages and unnecessary delays.

Who Needs to Be Aware of This Change?

This update affects a wide range of individuals and employers who use premium processing, including:

Employers & HR Teams

If your company regularly uses premium processing to expedite visa adjudications, for example, to meet onboarding deadlines for H-1B, L-1, O-1, or other workers, the increase represents an added budget consideration for 2026 filings. Even modest increases can add up across multiple cases.

Immigrant Professionals & Entrepreneurs

Individuals seeking faster decisions on employment visas, change of status requests, or work authorizations (such as F-1 OPT) should plan ahead and order filings accordingly to avoid paying the higher fee if possible.

International Students

Students and recent graduates who rely on premium processing to speed work-authorization decisions, particularly for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT,  will see slightly higher costs as well.

How to Navigate the Fee Increase

To make the most of the current fee schedule:

  • File Early: Ensure your premium processing request is postmarked before March 1, 2026 if you want to take advantage of the lower rate.
  • Double-Check Fees: Submit the correct fee amount for your specific case type — a wrong fee could lead to rejection.
  • Budget Accordingly: Employers and applicants should update internal filing budgets to reflect the new fees if filing after March 1.

Final Thoughts

The premium processing fee increase taking effect in March 2026 reflects a broader obligation for USCIS to adjust for inflation and continue delivering expedited services. While it doesn’t alter processing times or service availability, it does increase the cost of choosing faster adjudication, and planning your filings around this change could save money and time.

If you’re preparing a premium processing request,  whether for a work visa, green card petition, or other benefit, it’s important to stay informed about timing and correct fee requirements. Our team at Garvish Immigration Law Group can help you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls as these changes take effect.