The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced an average increase of 5.6 per cent in premium processing fees for immigration applications across all categories.
The adjustment is aimed at protecting the agency’s budget from the impact of rising inflation and increasing operational costs.
The revised fees are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2026, and will affect thousands of businesses and individuals who rely on expedited processing for work permits, residency petitions and student-related immigration benefits.
Under the provisions of the USCIS Stabilisation Act, the federal government is authorised to review and adjust premium processing fees every two years to ensure the real dollar value of the service is preserved.
Explaining the rationale behind the increase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the measure was necessary to maintain service quality and operational efficiency.
“These adjustments are vital to protect the integrity of our services. The revenue generated will be used to improve our adjudication processes, tackle persistent processing backlogs, and ultimately fund the essential naturalisation services that keep our immigration system moving.”
The new pricing structure applies broadly to nearly all immigration categories eligible for premium processing. Applicants filing Form I-129 for H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers or R-1 religious worker non-immigrant status will see fees increase from $1,685 to $1,780.
Students applying for employment authorisation through Optional Practical Training and STEM Optional Practical Training using Form I-765 will also pay the revised fee of $1,780.
The highest increases apply to professional and high-skilled worker visa categories. Petitions for widely used classifications such as H-1B, L-1, O-1 and TN visas will rise from $2,805 to $2,965.
This same premium processing fee of $2,965 will apply to employment-based immigrant petitions filed under Form I-140 for alien workers.
Applicants seeking to extend or change their non-immigrant status as students or exchange visitors using Form I-539 will face a new fee of $2,075, up from the previous charge of $1,965.
The Department of Homeland Security has warned that any application postmarked on or after the March 1, 2026 deadline must include the updated payment amount. Applications submitted with incorrect fees will be rejected.
Officials also reminded applicants that premium processing is only available for specific immigration benefits where the service has been formally designated. The additional revenue, they said, is intended not only to speed up decisions but also to support a broader overhaul of the agency’s ageing adjudication infrastructure.
