USCIS to Raise Premium Processing Fees Starting March 1, 2026
Published Jan 9, 2026Effective Mar 1, 2026
DHS is publishing a final rule increasing USCIS premium processing fees to reflect inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The new fees take effect March 1, 2026, and apply to requests postmarked on or after that date.
Key points
- The USCIS Stabilization Act allows DHS to adjust premium processing fees every two years for inflation.
- Form I-129 for H-2B or R-1 status rises from $1,685 to $1,780.
- Form I-129 for other classifications (including H-1B, L-1A/B, O-1, E-1/2/3) and Form I-140 employment-based classifications rise from $2,805 to $2,965.
- Form I-539 for F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, or M-2 status rises from $1,965 to $2,075.
- Form I-765 premium processing for OPT and STEM OPT applications rises from $1,685 to $1,780.
- Requests must include the new fee if postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, and must be filed on Form I-907.
Who is affected
Employers and applicants requesting premium processing on Forms I-129, I-140, I-539, or I-765.
What to do
Confirm the correct new fee for the benefit requested and submit Form I-907 with the updated amount if filing on or after March 1, 2026.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-13. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
Release Date
01/09/2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is publishing a final rule that will increase USCIS fees for premium processing to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025.
The USCIS Stabilization Act established the authority for DHS to adjust premium processing fees every two years to account for inflation. Fees will continue to be adjusted agencywide to account for inflation and protect the real dollar value of the premium processing service we provide. The revenue generated by this fee increase will be used to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudication processes; respond to adjudication demands, including processing backlogs; and otherwise fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.
This rule is effective on March 1, 2026. If you submit a request for premium processing postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, you must include the new fee for the specific benefit you are requesting. The new fees are listed in the table below. To request premium processing, you must submit Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, and follow the form instructions.
Form | Previous Fee | New Fee
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status | $1,685 | $1,780
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, all other available Form I-129 classifications:
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 classifications:
E11
E12
E13
E21 (NIW and non-NIW)
E31
E32
EW3
$2,805 | $2,965
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting:
F-1
F-2
J-1
J-2
M-1
M-2
$1,965 | $2,075
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for certain eligible applications (OPT and STEM-OPT Classifications) | $1,685 | $1,780
You may only request premium processing for a benefit if announced premium processing is available for that benefit.
01/09/2026
Original title: USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees
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This summary was produced with AI from the official announcement. Only the official source is authoritative.