The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an increase in USCIS premium processing fees for several visa categories, including nonimmigrant student and work visas.
The change, based on inflation from June 2023 to June 2025, aligns with the USCIS Stabilization Act, which allows fee adjustments every two years to maintain the real dollar value of premium processing services.
According to the official USCIS release dated January 9, 2026, the revenue from the fee increase will fund faster processing, improve adjudication systems, tackle backlogs, and support naturalization and visa services.
When Do the New Fees Take Effect?
The revised premium processing fees will be effective from March 1, 2026.
Any requests submitted on or after this date will require the updated fee.
To use premium processing, applicants must submit Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing).
This service allows for faster review of certain visa applications.
What Is Premium Processing?
Premium processing offers expedited service for visa applications, including:
Form I-129: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Form I-140: Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
Form I-539: Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status
Form I-765: Application for Employment Authorization (certain OPT/STEM-OPT cases)
Processing timelines vary depending on the form:
Most forms: 15 business days
Form I-765: 30 business days
Form I-539 for F, M, or J visa status changes: 30 business days
Form I-140 (E13 executives/managers & E21 national interest waiver): 45 business days
New Premium Processing Fees
Here’s a comparison of the previous and new fees for key visa forms:
| Form / Visa Type | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129, H-2B or R-1 | $1,685 | $1,780 |
| Form I-129, all other classifications (H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, TN, etc.) | $2,805 | $2,965 |
| Form I-140, Employment-Based (E11, E12, E13, E21, etc.) | $2,805 | $2,965 |
| Form I-539, F-1/F-2/J-1/J-2/M-1/M-2 | $1,965 | $2,075 |
| Form I-765, OPT/STEM-OPT eligible cases | $1,685 | $1,780 |
These changes are designed to keep premium processing sustainable while continuing to provide fast-track visa services for applicants.
