U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services increased premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. Any Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing Service) postmarked on or after that date must include the updated fee — filings submitted with incorrect amounts will be rejected and returned.
The increase follows the biennial inflation adjustment authorized by the USCIS Stabilization Act, using Consumer Price Index data from June 2023 through June 2025, reflecting approximately 5.7% inflation over the two-year period.
Key Takeaway
Premium processing for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-3, and employment-based green card petitions (Form I-129 and I-140) now costs $2,965. EAD premium processing (I-765) is $1,780. Change of status (I-539) is $2,075. Employers should update budgets and filing procedures immediately.
Updated Premium Processing Fee Schedule
| Form | Categories | Previous Fee | New Fee (March 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-129 | H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-3, R-1 | $2,805 | $2,965 |
| I-140 | EB-1, EB-2, EB-2 NIW, EB-3 | $2,805 | $2,965 |
| I-539 | Change of Status (F, M, J) | $1,965 | $2,075 |
| I-765 | EAD (OPT, STEM OPT) | $1,685 | $1,780 |
What Premium Processing Provides
Premium processing is an optional, fee-based service that guarantees USCIS will take action on a petition within a specified timeframe. It does not guarantee approval — only faster adjudication. The response may be an approval, denial, request for evidence (RFE), notice of intent to deny, or fraud investigation referral.
Current premium processing timelines are 15 business days for most I-129 petitions, 45 business days for I-140 petitions seeking EB-1C or EB-2 NIW classification, and 30 business days for I-765 and I-539 applications.
Why This Matters — Processing Time Context
Regular USCIS processing times have slowed substantially in recent months. While USCIS currently lists average processing times of approximately 4.5 months for change-of-status petitions, actual adjudications are frequently taking 8 months or longer. For many employment-based green card petitions, regular processing can take over a year.
This widening gap between regular and premium processing timelines makes premium processing increasingly important for employers and applicants with time-sensitive start dates, status expiration deadlines, or business needs.
Filing Guidance
The applicable fee is determined by the postmark date of the Form I-907, not the date it is received by USCIS. If mailing on or after March 1, 2026, the new fee must be included. Premium processing fees are separate from and in addition to the standard filing fees for the underlying petition or application.
Premium processing can be requested at the time of initial filing or at any point while the underlying petition is still pending. When submitted after the initial filing, the premium processing clock begins upon USCIS receipt of the I-907, not from the original filing date.
If USCIS fails to adjudicate within the guaranteed timeframe, the agency must refund the premium processing fee — though the underlying petition remains pending.
Budget and Planning Considerations
Employers managing immigration programs should review upcoming filings, update budget authorizations to reflect the new amounts, and coordinate early with counsel on filing timing. The combination of increased premium processing fees and regular processing delays creates a planning challenge that requires proactive management.
Future fee adjustments will continue on a biennial schedule under the Stabilization Act, using CPI-U inflation data to determine changes.