USCIS Fees Premium Processing to Increase From March 1, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a final rule increasing uscis fees premium processing to reflect inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The updated fees will apply to premium processing requests filed on or after March 1, 2026, as part of the agency’s regular biennial adjustment process.

Authority Behind the USCIS Fees Premium Processing Increase

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The USCIS Stabilization Act gives DHS the authority to adjust uscis fees premium processing every two years to account for inflation. According to DHS, these adjustments are necessary to protect the real dollar value of premium processing services. Revenue from the updated fees will support premium processing operations, improvements to adjudication processes, responses to processing backlogs, and funding of USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.

Effective Date and Filing Requirement

The final rule takes effect on March 1, 2026. Any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, postmarked on or after that date must include the new uscis fees premium processing amount. USCIS has emphasized that applicants must follow the Form I-907 instructions and may only request premium processing where the service has been officially announced as available.

Updated USCIS Fees Premium Processing Table

Under the new rule, uscis fees premium processing will increase across several immigration benefit categories:

• Form I-129 (H-2B or R-1): $1,685 to $1,780
• Form I-129 (all other eligible classifications): $2,805 to $2,965
• Form I-140 (employment-based immigrant petitions): $2,805 to $2,965
• Form I-539 (F, J, and M categories): $1,965 to $2,075
• Form I-765 (OPT and STEM OPT): $1,685 to $1,780

These adjustments reflect inflation and are consistent with DHS’s authority under existing law.

In summary, DHS has finalized a rule to raise uscis fees premium processing effective March 1, 2026, in line with inflation. Applicants filing premium processing requests on or after that date must pay the updated fees listed by USCIS. The changes aim to sustain premium processing services and support broader adjudication operations, reinforcing the long-term stability of uscis fees premium processing.