USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increase (Effective March 1, 2026)

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially confirmed an increase in premium processing fees for certain immigration applications. The new fees take effect on March 1, 2026, and apply to any Form I-907 premium processing request postmarked on or after that date.

Premium processing remains an optional service that allows applicants to request expedited adjudication of eligible immigration petitions, but the cost of this service is increasing due to inflation-based adjustments.

What Is Premium Processing?

Premium processing is an optional USCIS service that guarantees faster processing of certain immigration petitions in exchange for an additional fee. It applies to forms such as:

• Form I-129 (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, etc.)
• Form I-140 (employment-based Green Card petitions)
• Form I-539 (change or extension of status)
• Form I-765 (eligible employment authorization categories)

The service does not guarantee approval, only faster adjudication timelines.

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Who Will Be Affected?

The fee increase impacts a wide range of applicants and employers, including:

• H-1B and other work visa applicants
• Employment-based Green Card applicants
• F-1 students applying for OPT or STEM OPT (where eligible)
• Employers sponsoring foreign workers
• Immigration attorneys handling expedited filings

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Updated Premium Processing Fees (High-Level)

Effective March 1, 2026:

• Most Form I-129 categories (including H-1B, L-1, O-1): $2,965
• Form I-140 (employment-based Green Cards): $2,965
• Form I-539 (change/extension of status): $2,075
• Form I-765 (eligible EAD categories): $1,780

These increases apply only to the premium processing fee (Form I-907), not the underlying immigration filing fees.

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What Applicants Should Do

• Double-check the correct fee before filing Form I-907
• Ensure filings are postmarked on or after March 1, 2026 use updated fees
• Update employer immigration budgets for higher costs
• Coordinate filing timing to avoid unnecessary premium expenses
• Avoid fee errors, which may result in rejection and delays

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When Did It Take Effect?

• Effective date: March 1, 2026
• Applies to all premium processing requests postmarked on or after this date

For a step-by-step guide on Green Card adjustment of status, you can read:
https://www.sweetbeginningusa.com/2019/02/diy-i-485-adjustment-of-status-2019.html