Employers and foreign nationals who rely on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) premium-processing service should brace for higher costs. In a Final Rule published in the Federal Register on January 12, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that premium-processing fees will be adjusted for inflation accumulated between June 2023 and June 2025. The new fees take effect March 1, 2026 and apply to all filings post-marked on or after that date.
Under the rule, the fee for most Form I-129 non-immigrant classifications (including H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1 and TN) and Form I-140 immigrant-worker petitions will rise from US $2,805 to US $2,965. Seasonal H-2B and R-1 petitions will increase from US $1,685 to US $1,780, while E-visa premium processing will also jump to US $2,965. Students will feel the change as well: premium handling of F-1 STEM-OPT employment-authorization requests and change-of-status petitions will climb from US $1,685 to US $1,780.
Although the percentage increases are modest compared with the 2024 fee overhaul, the absolute dollar amounts are significant, especially for volume filers in the tech, consulting and healthcare sectors. Employers that routinely upgrade cases to premium—often to meet project deadlines, start dates or travel plans—should review budgets and decide which petitions truly warrant the faster 15-calendar-day adjudication.
![USCIS to Raise Premium Processing Fees on March 1, 2026]()
If questions about visa strategy, documentation or timelines arise, VisaHQ can provide hands-on assistance with U.S. immigration filings, including premium-processing requests, and offers an easy online platform to track progress—details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
Universities and international-student advisers are advising upcoming graduates to file early for STEM OPT work authorization or H-1B "cap-gap" protection, as the higher premium costs will coincide with the March 2026 H-1B registration season. Immigration counsel also recommend building a five-to-six-week cushion into onboarding timelines for new hires in case organizations choose standard processing to save on fees.
For global-mobility managers, the takeaway is clear: update cost projections, adjust relocation allowances where premium processing is critical, and communicate the new pricing to business stakeholders well before March 1. Failing to do so could delay start dates for key talent or create unexpected budget overruns. (Sources: Federal Register; Times of India)
Under the rule, the fee for most Form I-129 non-immigrant classifications (including H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1 and TN) and Form I-140 immigrant-worker petitions will rise from US $2,805 to US $2,965. Seasonal H-2B and R-1 petitions will increase from US $1,685 to US $1,780, while E-visa premium processing will also jump to US $2,965. Students will feel the change as well: premium handling of F-1 STEM-OPT employment-authorization requests and change-of-status petitions will climb from US $1,685 to US $1,780.
Although the percentage increases are modest compared with the 2024 fee overhaul, the absolute dollar amounts are significant, especially for volume filers in the tech, consulting and healthcare sectors. Employers that routinely upgrade cases to premium—often to meet project deadlines, start dates or travel plans—should review budgets and decide which petitions truly warrant the faster 15-calendar-day adjudication.
If questions about visa strategy, documentation or timelines arise, VisaHQ can provide hands-on assistance with U.S. immigration filings, including premium-processing requests, and offers an easy online platform to track progress—details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
Universities and international-student advisers are advising upcoming graduates to file early for STEM OPT work authorization or H-1B "cap-gap" protection, as the higher premium costs will coincide with the March 2026 H-1B registration season. Immigration counsel also recommend building a five-to-six-week cushion into onboarding timelines for new hires in case organizations choose standard processing to save on fees.
For global-mobility managers, the takeaway is clear: update cost projections, adjust relocation allowances where premium processing is critical, and communicate the new pricing to business stakeholders well before March 1. Failing to do so could delay start dates for key talent or create unexpected budget overruns. (Sources: Federal Register; Times of India)
