Washington, D.C. | January 12, 2026
The United States has announced a major increase in premium processing fees for H-1B and several other visa categories, with the updated rates set to take effect on March 1, 2026. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the adjustment was driven by inflation and aims to support agency operations and improve processing timelines.
The fee hike will impact thousands of international applicants, particularly Indian professionals and students, who make up a substantial share of premium processing requests.
New Premium Processing Fees Effective March 1, 2026
Under the revised structure, premium processing charges for multiple employment-based and student visa categories have been increased:
Form I-129 (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.)
Old Fee: $2,805
New Fee: $2,965
Form I-140 (Employment-Based Green Card)
Old Fee: $2,805
New Fee: $2,965
Form I-539 (Extensions/Changes for F-1, J-1, M-1 Students)
Old Fee: $1,965
New Fee: $2,075
Form I-765 (Employment Authorization, OPT/STEM-OPT)
Old Fee: $1,685
New Fee: $1,780
Form I-129 (H-2B or R-1 Categories)
Old Fee: $1,685
New Fee: $1,780
Who Must Pay the New Fees?
Anyone submitting a premium processing request on or after March 1, 2026 must pay the updated charges, regardless of when their underlying petition was filed.
USCIS is legally authorized to adjust premium processing fees every two years to align with inflation and support operational costs.
Impact on Indian Applicants
The fee hike is expected to have a notable effect on:
Indian IT professionals applying for or extending H-1B visas
Indian students filing OPT, STEM-OPT, or F-1/J-1/M-1 extensions
Employers sponsoring workers via I-129 or I-140 petitions
Premium processing remains optional but is often used to expedite decisions in high-demand visa categories.
