On January 9, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security announced an increase to USCIS Premium Processing fees, effective March 1, 2026. This adjustment follows the biennial Premium Processing fee review under the USCIS Stabilization Act and reflects inflationary changes.
The updated Premium Processing fees are as follows:
| USCIS Form | Petition Type | Current Premium Processing Fee | New Premium Processing Fee (as of 3/1/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form I-129 | H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, etc. | $2,805 | $2,965 |
| Form I-140 | Employment-based immigrant petitions | $2,805 | $2,965 |
| Form I-539 | F, J, M Change of Status | $1,965 | $2,075 |
| Form I-765 | OPT | $1,685 | $1,780 |
USCIS regular processing times have slowed significantly in recent months. Although USCIS currently lists an average processing time of approximately 4.5 months for change-of-status petitions, actual adjudications are taking 8 months or longer. By contrast, petitions filed under Premium Processing must be adjudicated by USCIS within 15 business days.
Please note that Premium Processing is optional. Employees who already hold H-1B status and who are beneficiaries of an extension, amendment, or change of employer (transfer) petition may generally continue working based on the pending petition.
If you have questions about newly initiated cases, petitions currently pending with USCIS, or upgrading an existing case to Premium Processing, please contact the FSIS adviser handling the case.