The H-1B visa, which is highly popular among Indians, is going to become more expensive. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an increase in fees for several immigration services, including the H-1B visa.
The new fees will come into effect from March 1 this year. This fee hike will impact many employment-based
and non-immigrant visa applications filed by foreign nationals. A large number of Indian professionals and students in the US will also be affected.
According to USCIS, the revised fees have been decided after considering inflation from June 2023 to June 2025.
Details of the Increased Fees
As per the new fee structure released by USCIS, several application and premium processing fees have been raised:
The premium processing fee for Form I-129 applications for H-1B or R-1 non-immigrant status has increased from $1,685 to $1,780.
The premium processing fee for H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, and TN visas has gone up from $2,805 to $2,965.
The fee for Form I-140 applications has also increased from $2,805 to $2,965.
Higher Fees for Students and Work Authorization
The Form I-539 application fee has been increased from $1,965 to $2,075. This form applies to:
F-1 and F-2 students
J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors
M-1 and M-2 vocational students
For applicants who want expedited employment authorization, the fee has increased from $1,685 to $1,780.
Why USCIS Is Increasing the Fees
USCIS stated that the additional revenue from the fee hike will be used to support its operations. This includes:
Providing premium processing services
Reducing application backlogs
Funding USCIS justice, adjudication, and naturalization services
Impact on Indian Applicants
Indian nationals are the largest users of the H-1B visa program in the United States. They also form a major part of the employment-based green card backlog.
Because of this, the fee increase is expected to affect many Indian professionals, students, and employers.
However, it is important to note that premium processing is optional. It is mainly used by applicants who need faster decisions for reasons such as job changes, visa extensions, or travel plans.
