🇺🇸 H 1B Visa Fee Hiked! U.S. Revises Premium Processing Costs — What You Need to Know
The United States Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS) has announced a new fee hike that affects H‑1B visas and other immigration benefits that use premium processing — the fast‑track service many employers and applicants rely on to get decisions within 15 business days.📅 When It Takes Effect📆 The revised fees are effective for all premium processing requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026.💰 How Much Premium Processing Costs NowUnder the new schedule, the optional premium processing service will cost more across many visa filing categories, including H‑1B:📌 Premium Processing Fees (New vs. Old)· H‑1B & other common employment visas (Form I‑129)
From $2,805 → $2,965 — an increase of about $160.· Nonimmigrant workers like H‑2B/R‑1 (Form I‑129)
From $1,685 → $1,780 — up roughly $95.· Employment‑based immigrant petitions (Form I‑140) — up to $2,965.· Change/extension of nonimmigrant status (Form I‑539) — $2,075.· Employment Authorization (Form I‑765, including OPT/STEM OPT) — $1,780.These updated fees apply only to premium processing — they don’t change the base visa application fees charged by the U.S. government.📈 Why USCIS Increased the FeesUSCIS explained the hike reflects inflation between june 2023 and june 2025, as allowed under the USCIS Stabilization Act. This mechanism lets the Department of Homeland Security adjust certain service fees every couple of years so that processing services remain funded properly.🧑💼 Who This Affects Most➡️ Employers sponsoring foreign workers — particularly tech and other industries that regularly file H‑1B or similar petitions, often with premium processing.
➡️ Prospective employees and their employers planning to expedite H‑1B processing timelines.
➡️ Students and workers on OPT/STEM OPT who use premium processing to speed up employment authorization filings.📌 What Premium Processing Actually DoesPaying the extra fee doesn’t guarantee approval, but it does commit USCIS to act on your petition or application within a set timeframe (usually 15 calendar days) — significantly faster than standard processing that can take months.💡 Important ReminderThis fee hike doesn’t replace recent or larger proposed H‑1B fee changes (like the controversial $100,000 employer fee for new petitions introduced in 2025) — those are separate policy shifts that have sparked legal challenges and may affect visa costs and employer obligations in different ways. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.
From $2,805 → $2,965 — an increase of about $160.· Nonimmigrant workers like H‑2B/R‑1 (Form I‑129)
From $1,685 → $1,780 — up roughly $95.· Employment‑based immigrant petitions (Form I‑140) — up to $2,965.· Change/extension of nonimmigrant status (Form I‑539) — $2,075.· Employment Authorization (Form I‑765, including OPT/STEM OPT) — $1,780.These updated fees apply only to premium processing — they don’t change the base visa application fees charged by the U.S. government.📈 Why USCIS Increased the FeesUSCIS explained the hike reflects inflation between june 2023 and june 2025, as allowed under the USCIS Stabilization Act. This mechanism lets the Department of Homeland Security adjust certain service fees every couple of years so that processing services remain funded properly.🧑💼 Who This Affects Most➡️ Employers sponsoring foreign workers — particularly tech and other industries that regularly file H‑1B or similar petitions, often with premium processing.
➡️ Prospective employees and their employers planning to expedite H‑1B processing timelines.
➡️ Students and workers on OPT/STEM OPT who use premium processing to speed up employment authorization filings.📌 What Premium Processing Actually DoesPaying the extra fee doesn’t guarantee approval, but it does commit USCIS to act on your petition or application within a set timeframe (usually 15 calendar days) — significantly faster than standard processing that can take months.💡 Important ReminderThis fee hike doesn’t replace recent or larger proposed H‑1B fee changes (like the controversial $100,000 employer fee for new petitions introduced in 2025) — those are separate policy shifts that have sparked legal challenges and may affect visa costs and employer obligations in different ways. Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.