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On Friday, January 9, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a forthcoming increase in fees for premium processing services, effective March 1, 2026. Applicants submitting requests for premium processing on or after March 1, 2026, must include the updated fee for their specific benefit.
Key changes include:
- Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (employment-based classifications): Fee increased from $2,805 to $2,965.
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (all other classifications): Fee increased from $2,805 to $2,965.
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status): Fee increased from $1,685 to $1,780.
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2): Fee increased from $1,965 to $2,075.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (OPT and STEM-OPT Classifications): Fee increased from $1,685 to $1,780.
As per the USCIS Stabilization Act, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is authorized to adjust premium processing fees every two years to account for inflation. The announcement states that the additional revenue will support the enhancement of adjudication processes, address processing backlogs, and fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.
Please contact T&R if you have any questions or concerns.
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