USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increases Effective March 1, 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that premium processing fees will increase for certain employment-based and nonimmigrant filings effective March 1, 2026. The increases, required by statute and tied to inflation, will impact employers, foreign national employees, students, and dependents who rely on expedited adjudications to meet business and immigration timing needs.

These biennial fee adjustments reflect USCIS’s statutory obligation to align premium processing revenue with inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Key Takeaways

   •   Why the Increase:

USCIS is adjusting premium processing fees to reflect inflation, as mandated by federal law. Premium processing fees are reviewed and adjusted every two years.

   •   Who Is Affected:

The increases apply to premium processing requests filed with:

      •   Form I-129 (including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and others)

      •   Form I-140 (employment-based immigrant petitions)

      •   Form I-539 (change or extension of nonimmigrant status)

      •   Form I-765 (employment authorization applications, including OPT and STEM OPT)

   •   Effective Date:

The new fees apply to any premium processing request postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. Requests submitted with incorrect fees will be rejected and returned, causing potential delays.

   •   Practical Impact:

Employers and applicants should adjust filing strategies and budgets immediately to account for these changes.

USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increase Chart

Form & Category Current Fee New Fee (3/1/26)

Form I-129 – H-2B or R-1 classifications $1,685 $1,780

Form I-129 – All other classifications (E, H-1B, L, O, P, Q, TN, etc.) $2,805 $2,965

Form I-140 – Employment-based immigrant petitions $2,805 $2,965

Form I-539 – F, J, M change/extension of status $1,965 $2,075

Form I-765 – Employment authorization (OPT/STEM OPT) $1,685 $1,780

Source: USCIS Newsroom Alert, January 9, 2026

What Employers Should Know

   •   Budgeting Impact:

Employers should update immigration budgets to reflect higher premium processing costs, particularly for H-1B, L-1, O-1, and PERM-based green card cases.

   •   Strategic Filing Considerations:

Petitions filed before March 1, 2026 may still use the current fee. Filings on or after March 1 must include the increased amounts to avoid rejection.

   •   Staffing & Workforce Planning:

Premium processing is often critical for onboarding timelines, international assignments, and work authorization continuity. Increased costs may affect which cases are expedited.

   •   Employee Communications:

Employees filing premium requests for OPT, STEM OPT, or change of status should be notified of the higher personal filing costs.

   •   Compliance & Risk Management:

Incorrect fees can result in case rejection, loss of premium processing benefits, and operational delays.

Looking Ahead

   •   Biennial Fee Adjustments Likely to Continue:

Employers and applicants should expect ongoing premium fee increases every two years tied to inflation.

   •   Cost–Benefit Analysis:

Rising fees may prompt companies to reassess when premium processing is strategically necessary, particularly in cases without urgent start-date constraints.

   •   USCIS Processing Trends:

Whether increased fees lead to improved service levels and reduced backlogs remains to be seen and will be closely monitored by immigration practitioners.

Conclusion

The March 1, 2026 USCIS premium processing fee increases represent another inflation-based adjustment impacting a wide range of employment-based and nonimmigrant filings. Employers and applicants should plan ahead, adjust budgets, and ensure accurate filing fees to avoid delays. Strategic use of premium processing will remain an important consideration in workforce planning and immigration compliance.