Premium Processing Fees Change in 2026

2026-02-23 14:42

Premium Processing Fees Are Going Up — Here's What to Know

Starting March 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is raising fees for Premium Processing — the expedited review service for applications and petitions filed through Form I-907. The new rates will apply to all premium processing requests submitted on or after this date, and USCIS may reject or return requests filed with the previous fee amount.

Premium Processing allows for a decision on a case within a shortened timeframe (typically up to 15–30 business days, depending on the form), making this option important for employers, professionals, and international students. This mechanism exists under the USCIS Stabilization Act, which authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust fees every two years to reflect inflation (measured from June 2023 to June 2025).

The new Premium Processing fees are as follow

Form	Description	Categories	Previous Fee	New Fee (from March 1, 2026)
Form I-129	Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker	H-2B, R-1	$1 685	$1 780
Form I-129	Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker	E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, TN-2	$2 805	$2 965
Form I-140	Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (employment-based)	E11, E12, E13, E21 (NIW и non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3	$2 805	$2 965
Form I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2	$1 965	$2 075
Form I-765	Application for Employment Authorization (for select categories)	OPT, STEM-OPT	$1 685	$1 780