If you’re planning to apply for an H-1B visa, renew your work authorization, or bring talent to the US through company transfers, I’ve got news that’ll probably annoy you: USCIS just announced another round of fee increases.
Starting March 1, 2026, premium processing fees are going up across the board for work visas, student visas, and employment authorization. We’re talking about increases ranging from $95 to $160 per application.
I know what you’re thinking—”Again? Didn’t they just raise fees?” Yes. Yes, they did. But USCIS is back with inflation as their justification, and whether you agree with it or not, these are the new numbers you’ll need to budget for.
Let me break down exactly what’s changing, who’s affected, and what this actually means for your wallet.
What Is Premium Processing (And Why People Pay For It)
Before we dive into the numbers, let’s make sure we’re all clear on what premium processing actually is.
When you submit a visa application to USCIS, the standard processing time can be… well, let’s just say “unpredictable.” We’re talking anywhere from a few months to over a year in some cases. The backlog at USCIS is legendary at this point.
Premium processing is basically paying extra to jump the line—legally. When you fork over the premium processing fee on top of your regular visa application fee, USCIS commits to reviewing your case within 15 to 45 business days, depending on the visa type.
For someone waiting to start a job, bring a family member over, or extend their work authorization before it expires, that speed can be worth every penny. For employers trying to onboard international talent quickly, it’s often considered a necessary cost of doing business.
But here’s the thing: premium processing has always been controversial. Critics argue it creates a two-tier system where wealthier applicants can buy faster service while regular applicants languish in the backlog. Supporters counter that it actually helps USCIS fund improvements that benefit everyone.
Keep that debate in mind as we look at these new fees.
The Complete Fee Breakdown: What’s Changing March 1, 2026
Alright, let’s get into the specifics. Here’s exactly what you’ll be paying for premium processing starting March 1:
H-1B and Most Work Visas (Form I-129)
What it covers: This is the big one that affects tech workers, specialized professionals, and most employment-based visa categories.
Old premium processing fee: $2,805
New premium processing fee: $2,965
Increase: $160
This applies to:
- H-1B visas (specialty occupation workers—think tech, engineering, finance)
- L-1A visas (intracompany transferees in managerial positions)
- L-1B visas (intracompany transferees with specialized knowledge)
- O-1 visas (individuals with extraordinary ability—athletes, artists, scientists)
- E visas (treaty traders and investors)
- P visas (athletes, artists, entertainers)
- TN visas (NAFTA professionals from Canada and Mexico)
- And several other specialty categories
Real talk: If you’re in tech and going through the H-1B process, you’re already spending thousands between filing fees, attorney costs, and now this. An extra $160 might not break the bank, but it adds up when companies are processing multiple applications.
H-2B and Religious Worker Visas (Form I-129)
What it covers: Seasonal non-agricultural workers and religious workers
Old premium processing fee: $1,685
New premium processing fee: $1,780
Increase: $95
This is a separate category with slightly lower fees, but still seeing an increase.
Green Card Applications (Form I-140)
What it covers: Employment-based immigrant petitions—basically, the pathway to a green card through your job.
Old premium processing fee: $2,805
New premium processing fee: $2,965
Increase: $160
This affects:
- EB-1 petitions (priority workers with extraordinary ability)
- EB-2 petitions (advanced degree holders, including NIW—National Interest Waiver)
- EB-3 petitions (skilled workers, professionals, other workers)
Why this matters: The green card process is already expensive and time-consuming. Premium processing at least gives you faster certainty about whether your petition was approved, even if you’re still waiting years for your priority date.
Student Visa Extensions and Changes (Form I-539)
What it covers: Applications to extend or change your student visa status (F-1, J-1, M-1 visas)
Old premium processing fee: $1,965
New premium processing fee: $2,075
Increase: $110
Who this hits: International students who need to extend their stay or change their program. Students are already dealing with tuition, living expenses, and restricted work options. Another $110 isn’t nothing.
OPT and STEM-OPT Work Authorization (Form I-765)
What it covers: Optional Practical Training and STEM-OPT extensions that allow international students to work in the US after graduation.
Old premium processing fee: $1,685
New premium processing fee: $1,780
Increase: $95
Why students care: Your work authorization needs to be approved before you can legally start your job. If you’re graduating and have a job offer waiting, paying for premium processing can mean the difference between starting on time or watching your offer evaporate.
Why USCIS Keeps Raising Fees (According to Them)
USCIS’s official line is straightforward: inflation.
The agency says fees need to be “adjusted agencywide to account for inflation and protect the real dollar value of the premium processing service we provide.”
Here’s the thing: unlike most government agencies, USCIS is primarily fee-funded. They don’t get significant taxpayer dollars. They operate on the fees they collect from applicants.
That means when costs go up—salaries for officers, technology systems, rent for facilities—they either need to raise fees or cut services. Given that they’re already drowning in a massive backlog, cutting services isn’t really an option.
USCIS says the additional revenue from these increases will go toward:
- Improving the adjudication process
- Addressing the agency’s enormous backlog
- Funding naturalization services
- General adjudication improvements
Whether you believe that money will actually reduce wait times is another question. The backlog has been a problem for years despite multiple fee increases.
The Real Cost: What You’re Actually Paying
Let’s put this in perspective with a real example.
Say you’re a software engineer in India and a US tech company wants to hire you on an H-1B visa. Here’s what you (or more likely, your employer) is paying:
- Base H-1B filing fee: $460
- Fraud prevention fee: $500
- ACWIA training fee: $750 or $1,500 (depending on company size)
- Premium processing (new fee): $2,965
- Legal fees: $2,000-$5,000 (varies widely)
Total: Roughly $7,000-$11,000 for a single H-1B application with premium processing.
And that’s before the visa stamp interview fee at the embassy, potential travel costs, and any dependents you’re bringing.
For students doing STEM-OPT:
- Base I-765 fee: $470
- Premium processing (new fee): $1,780
- Potential legal consultation: $500-$1,500
Total: Around $2,750-$3,750
These aren’t small amounts, especially for students who are just starting their careers.
Is Premium Processing Worth It?
This is the million-dollar question—or in this case, the $3,000 question.
Premium processing makes sense if:
- Your current visa is about to expire and you need quick approval to maintain status
- You have a job offer with a start date and need authorization fast
- Your employer is paying and speed is worth the cost
- You’re in a time-sensitive situation (travel plans, family emergencies, etc.)
- The uncertainty of standard processing is causing significant stress or financial risk
You might skip premium processing if:
- You’re applying well in advance of any deadlines
- You can’t afford the extra cost and aren’t in a rush
- You’re filing early and have buffer time
- Your employer won’t pay and you’re covering costs yourself
- You’re philosophically opposed to the two-tier system
My honest take: If you’re in a situation where timing matters—and for most work visa situations, it does—premium processing is almost a necessity despite the cost. Standard processing times are just too unpredictable.
But that doesn’t mean the system is fair or ideal. It just means this is the reality we’re working with.
What This Means for Employers
If you’re a company that regularly sponsors foreign workers, these fee increases add up quickly.
Let’s say you sponsor 50 H-1B workers per year and use premium processing for most of them. That’s an extra $8,000 annually just from this fee increase ($160 × 50).
For large tech companies bringing in hundreds or thousands of visa workers, we’re talking tens of thousands in additional costs.
Some companies will absorb these costs. Others might start being more selective about who they sponsor or push back on premium processing unless absolutely necessary.
Smaller companies and startups, which already struggle with the costs of sponsoring international workers, might find this is one more reason to stick with US workers or contractors.
The Bigger Picture: Immigration Is Getting More Expensive
These premium processing increases don’t exist in isolation.
USCIS has been steadily raising fees across the board. In recent months, they’ve increased costs for asylum applications, Temporary Protected Status, and regular work permits.
The trend is clear: legal immigration to the United States is getting more expensive year after year.
Part of this is genuinely about inflation and operational costs. But part of it also reflects the reality that immigration has become incredibly politicized, and neither party has managed to adequately fund USCIS or reform the system in a meaningful way.
So instead of fixing the broken process that creates these backlogs in the first place, we just keep adding premium processing options and raising fees to paper over the dysfunction.
When Do These Changes Take Effect?
Mark your calendar: March 1, 2026.
Any application submitted before March 1 will use the old fee structure. Anything submitted on or after March 1 must include the new, higher fees.
If you’re planning to file something that could use premium processing, and you’re ready to submit before March 1, you might want to move up your timeline to save a bit of money.
Just make sure you’re actually ready to file. Submitting a rushed, incomplete application to save $100 is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
What You Can Do About It
Not much, honestly. These fees are set by USCIS with very little public input, and they’re within their authority to adjust them.
But here are a few practical steps:
Budget accordingly: If you’re planning any visa applications in 2026 or beyond, factor in these higher costs from the start.
Time your applications strategically: If you can file before March 1 and you’re ready, do it.
Question whether you need premium processing: Don’t automatically assume you need it. If you have time, standard processing might save you significant money.
Push for systematic reform: The real solution is comprehensive immigration reform that reduces backlogs, modernizes the system, and makes legal immigration less expensive and unpredictable. Contact your representatives if this matters to you.
Work with experienced immigration attorneys: The cost of getting your application wrong because you tried to save money on legal help usually exceeds the cost of hiring good representation.
The Bottom Line
Starting March 1, 2026, premium processing for most work visas, student visas, and employment authorization will cost between $95 and $160 more than it does now.
For H-1B workers and most employment-based applicants, you’re looking at $2,965 for premium processing. For students extending status, $2,075. For OPT work authorization, $1,780.
These aren’t trivial amounts, especially added on top of already expensive visa processes.
USCIS says they need the money to improve services and address backlogs. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen. What we know for sure is that legal immigration to the United States just got a bit more expensive.
If you’re in the middle of the visa process or planning to start one, factor these new numbers into your budget. And if you’re an employer sponsoring workers, be prepared for your immigration costs to tick up.
The one thing that won’t change? The visa process will still be complicated, expensive, and frustrating regardless of how much we pay.
Welcome to the American immigration system.
Quick Reference: 2026 USCIS Premium Processing Fees
H-1B, L-1, O-1, and most work visas (Form I-129): $2,965 (was $2,805)
H-2B and religious worker visas (Form I-129): $1,780 (was $1,685)
Employment-based green card petitions (Form I-140): $2,965 (was $2,805)
Student visa extensions (Form I-539): $2,075 (was $1,965)
OPT and STEM-OPT work authorization (Form I-765): $1,780 (was $1,685)
Effective date: March 1, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for premium processing? No, premium processing is optional. You can file your application with standard processing at no additional cost beyond the base filing fee.
How fast is premium processing? USCIS commits to reviewing premium processing cases within 15 to 45 business days, depending on the form type. This is much faster than standard processing, which can take months or over a year.
Can I add premium processing after I’ve already filed? Yes, in most cases you can upgrade to premium processing after filing by submitting Form I-907 and the premium processing fee.
What happens if USCIS doesn’t process my premium case on time? If USCIS doesn’t meet the processing timeframe, they’ll refund your premium processing fee. However, this doesn’t happen often.
Are these fees on top of the regular filing fees? Yes. Premium processing is an additional cost beyond the standard visa application fees, legal fees, and other associated costs.
Will fees keep increasing every year? USCIS adjusts fees periodically, usually every few years. With inflation being used as justification, it’s likely we’ll see continued increases.
