US visa applicants will need to pay additional money if they wish to expedite the processing of their application. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a final rule to increase Premium Processing fees for the issuance of several visa classifications.
When individuals or companies request faster processing of visa applications, DHS takes a fee in addition to the standard filing cost. This is known as premium processing.
Effective March 1, 2026, all requests for Premium Processing will require the new fee, as outlined in the Federal Register. This rule affects all USCIS forms that qualify for Premium Processing.
The rule will be implemented on January 12, 2026, and the compliance date is set for March 1, 2026. Starting from March 1, any Premium Processing request that is postmarked must include the new fee.
DHS is increasing its premium processing fees based on the rate of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The previous hike in fees went into effect on February 26, 2024.
Form I-907 is the form to be used to request the processing of eligible forms in an expedited manner, called Premium processing or faster processing. The eligible forms and categories allowed under Form I-907 – Request for Premium Processing form include Form I-129, Form I-140, Form I-765 and Form I-539.
A request for premium processing postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the new fee, as applicable to the benefit request classification. A premium processing request must be submitted on USCIS Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing.
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
This rule increases the premium processing fees for Form I-129. The premium processing fee for petitions requesting H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant classification will increase from $1,685 to $1,780.
The premium processing fee for all other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H3, L-1A, L-1B, and others will increase from $2,805 to $2,965.
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
This rule increases the premium processing fees for Form I-539 applications requesting F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, and J-2, nonimmigrant status. The premium processing fee for these applications will increase from $1,965 to $2,075.
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
This rule increases the premium processing fees for Form I-765. The premium processing fee for eligible Form I-765 applications will increase from $1,685 to $1,780
If you request premium processing, USCIS guarantees that they will take adjudicative action on the case within the periods described below, or they will refund the premium processing fee:
15 calendar days for most classifications;
30 calendar days for Form I-765 for F-1 students seeking OPT or STEM OPT extensions;
30 calendar days for Form I-539 applicants requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status
45 calendar days for Form I-140 E13 multinational executive and manager and Form I-140 E21 national interest waiver classifications