On February 27, 2026 global immigration firm Fragomen reminded employers that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will raise premium-processing fees on March 1, 2026. The cost for most Form I-129 and I-140 filings rises from $2,805 to $2,965, while the I-539 and F-1 OPT premium fees also increase. Although the regulation was published in January, the advisory underscores that filings must be post-marked no later than February 29 (effectively February 27 for overnight couriers) to use the lower fee. The agency adjusts the surcharge biennially for inflation, but this year’s 5.7 percent jump comes amid other cost hikes: the separate H-1B registration fee rose to $215 and a $100,000 consular filing fee for certain petitions took effect last autumn. Corporate mobility budgets therefore face compound pressure just weeks before the H-1B cap season.
![USCIS Premium-Processing Fee Jumps to $2,965—Last Day to File at Old Rate Is Feb 29 Shipment]()
At this juncture, many organizations also turn to service providers like VisaHQ for supplementary support. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) helps HR teams and individual travelers track changing government fees, generate compliant forms and manage courier logistics, streamlining the filing process when every dollar and day counts.
Fragomen’s alert recommends that companies batch any time-sensitive amendments, portability filings or green-card upgrades immediately and use trackable overnight delivery to prove the February 29 post-mark. HR teams should also update POA forms authorizing attorneys to use new Form I-907 fee amounts starting next week. Failure to include the correct fee will trigger USCIS rejection, resetting priority dates and risking work-authorization gaps. The memo advises employers with FY-2027 H-1B plans to factor the higher premium cost into budget models for the April petition wave.
At this juncture, many organizations also turn to service providers like VisaHQ for supplementary support. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) helps HR teams and individual travelers track changing government fees, generate compliant forms and manage courier logistics, streamlining the filing process when every dollar and day counts.
Fragomen’s alert recommends that companies batch any time-sensitive amendments, portability filings or green-card upgrades immediately and use trackable overnight delivery to prove the February 29 post-mark. HR teams should also update POA forms authorizing attorneys to use new Form I-907 fee amounts starting next week. Failure to include the correct fee will trigger USCIS rejection, resetting priority dates and risking work-authorization gaps. The memo advises employers with FY-2027 H-1B plans to factor the higher premium cost into budget models for the April petition wave.
