In a development that will affect thousands of foreign nationals seeking expedited decisions on US visas, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week confirmed a significant increase in premium processing fees across a wide range of immigration categories. The revised fee structure, set to come into force on March 1, 2026, is part of a planned update tied to inflation and authorised under the USCIS Stabilization Act, which allows the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to adjust certain service fees biennially to maintain their real value.
Premium processing is an optional service that many applicants and employers use to speed up adjudication of applications that can otherwise take months to process. This service guarantees a shorter processing window — as little as 15 business days for many petitions — in exchange for an additional fee paid alongside the standard filing costs.
Under the new schedule, the premium processing fee for most employment‐based visa petitions — including the highly sought-after H-1B specialty worker visa — will rise from $2,805 to $2,965. This adjustment also applies to other temporary worker classifications like L-1 intracompany transferee, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, P-1 athletic and entertainment petitions, and TN visas for certain Canadian and Mexican professionals. The fee for nonimmigrantapplications such as H-2B and R-1 visas will increase from $1,685 to $1,780. Premium processing fees for employment-based immigrant petitions, such as Form I-140, covering EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 categories, will also jump to $2,965. Students and exchange visitors looking to extend or change status under Form I-539 — which includes F-1, J-1, and M-1 classifications — will pay $2,075, up from $1,965. Meanwhile, fees for Form I-765 work authorisation requests, commonly used by students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM-OPT, will rise from $1,685 to $1,780.
The DHS explained that the increase is not a policy shift designed to limit immigration but rather a response to inflation between June 2023 and June 2025. The additional revenue is intended to help fund premium processing services and improve overall adjudication capacity, including addressing existing backlogs and enhancing USCIS operations. Officials highlighted that the increased funds will support both adjudication and naturalization services and ensure that the premium processing option remains financially viable.
The impact of the fee hike will be felt across the immigration landscape. Employers that regularly sponsor foreign talent through H-1B or L-1 visas — including many in the technology, engineering, healthcare and research sectors — may see higher upfront costs for expedited processing. Foreign students and academics relying on OPT extensions or changing visa categories could also face slightly higher fees for faster decisions. Experts say applicants who need a rapid turnaround for job start dates, status changes or travel authorisations must factor these increases into their planning.
Critics of the fee increase argue that it adds to the overall cost burden faced by foreign professionals choosing the United States as a destination for work and study. Some immigration stakeholders caution that while the adjustment reflects inflation, it comes at a time when broader concerns about processing delays and administrative backlogs persist. Nonetheless, DHS officials maintain that premium processing remains a valuable option for those who can afford it and need faster resolution of their cases.
Applicants considering premium processing are advised to submit their requests before March 1, 2026 if they wish to pay the current, lower fees. After that date, any Form I-907 for premium processing must include the revised amount appropriate for the visa category being sought.
This fee increase comes amid ongoing discussions in the United States about immigration policy and labour market needs, and it underscores how procedural costs continue to evolve alongside broader economic conditions.
