The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a significant rise in premium processing fees for immigration applications by a average of 5.6% for all categories.
The move is designed to shield the agency’s budget from the rising cost of inflation.
Read also: US halts immigration applications from Nigeria, others as Trump expands travel ban
The price adjustments, which are set to take effect on March 1, 2026, will impact thousands of businesses and individuals seeking expedited decisions on work permits, residency petitions, and student visas.
Under the USCIS Stabilisation Act, the government is permitted to review and adjust these costs every two years to ensure the real dollar value of the service is maintained.
A spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explained the necessity of the hike, stating:
“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 cost of speed
The fee increases are broad, affecting nearly every category where fast-tracked processing is available. For those filing Form I-129 for H-2B or R-1 non-immigrant status, the cost will rise from $1,685 to $1,780.
Similarly, students applying for employment authorisation (OPT and STEM-OPT) via Form I-765 will also see their fees climb to $1,780.
The most substantial charges apply to professional and high-skilled worker categories. Petitions for popular visas including the H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN classifications, are set to jump from $2,805 to $2,965.
This same higher rate of $2,965 will apply to employment-based immigrant petitions (Form I-140) for alien workers.
Meanwhile, those seeking to extend or change their non-immigrant status as students or exchange visitors (Form I-539) will face a new charge of $2,075, up from the previous $1,965.
Deadlines and compliance
The DHS has warned that any application postmarked on or after the March deadline must include the updated payment. Failure to include the correct amount will result in the request being rejected.
Officials have also reminded applicants that premium processing can only be requested for specific benefits where the service has been officially announced as available. The extra income is set not just for speedier decisions, but for a general overhaul of the agency’s ageing adjudication infrastructure.
Ngozi Ekugo is a Snr.Correspondent at Business day. She has an MSc in Management from the University of Hertfordshire, and is an associate member of CIPM. Her career spans multiple industries, including a brief stint at Goldman Sachs in London,
