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USCIS Premium Processing Fees Will Increase on March 1, 2026

Feb 27, 2026 | Raluca Vais-Ottosen

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an increase to premium processing fees under the authority of the USCIS Stabilization Act, which permits the Department of Homeland Security to adjust these fees for inflation every two years.

What is a premium processing fee?

Premium processing is an optional, fee‑based service available for certain immigration benefits. It provides faster adjudication regardless of the reason for requesting faster processing. This service is distinct from expedited processing, which is free but granted only in limited emergency circumstances.

What are the fees for premium processing?

Only four types of immigration forms are eligible for premium processing, and only specific categories within those forms qualify. The table below outlines the current immigration benefits eligible for premium processing and the corresponding fee changes.

Form  
Type of Status Requested 		Premium Fee Before 03/01/2026 Premium Fee On and After 03/01/2026
I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status $1,685 $1,780
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 $2,805 $2,965
I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker Employment-based (EB) categories E11, E12, E13, E21 (NIW and non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3 $2,805 $2,965
I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status  
F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2 		$1,965 $2,075
I-765, Application for Employment Authorization F-1 students requesting OPT and/or STEM OPT $1,685 $1,780

 

Are there any other fees associated with these applications?

Yes. The fees listed above apply only to the optional premium processing service. Each underlying application or petition also carries a separate mandatory filing fee, which varies based on the type of immigration benefit requested and other statutory factors.

 

How long does premium processing take?

Premium processing often speeds up the process considerably.  Some applications or petitions can take several months or even more than a year to go through the system under regular processing.  However, with premium processing USCIS usually acts on a qualifying petition or application in 15 to 45 business days depending on the type of application, as follows:

  • 45 business days for I-140 Petitions seeking EB-1C classification (multinational executive or manager);
  •  45 business days for I-140 Petitions seeking EB-2 classification in the National Interest Waiver (NIW);
  • 30 business days for I-765 for F-1 students seeking OPT or STEM OPT extensions;
  • 30 business days for I-539 applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status, once all prerequisites are met (including receipt of biometrics, if applicable);
  • 15 business days for all other classifications eligible for premium processing (such as H-1B, TN, etc.).

    During the timeframes listed above, USCIS must act on the petition and notify the application or petitioner either of a final decision, or of another action to be taken on the case, such as a request for evidence (RFE), notice of intent to deny, or investigation for fraud or misrepresentation.  If USCIS requests additional evidence, then a new premium processing clock starts once USCIS receives the response to its request. 

    How and when do I request premium processing?

    Premium processing is requested by filing Form I‑907, Request for Premium Processing Service, with the required fee. It may be submitted with the initial filing or at any time while the underlying petition or application is pending. When submitted after the underlying filing, the premium processing clock begins upon USCIS’s receipt of the Form I‑907, not the original filing date.

    What happens if USCIS does not act on my application or petition within the premium processing time?

    If a properly filed premium processing request is not adjudicated within the required period, USCIS must refund the premium processing fee.

    Are there any other types of immigration benefits eligible for premium processing?

    Only the forms and categories listed above currently qualify for premium processing, though DHS may expand eligibility in the future. Benefits not eligible for premium processing may still be considered for expedited processing in limited emergency situations and only when premium processing is not available.

    For additional information on premium processing or other immigration matters, contact Attorney Raluca (Luca) Vais‑Ottosen at rvo@dewittllp.com or (608) 252‑9291.