Overview
- DHS/USCIS published a final rule indexing premium processing fees to inflation measured from June 2023 through June 2025 under the USCIS Stabilization Act.
- New fees include: I-129 H-2B/R-1 rising to $1,780; I-129 other classifications (including H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, TN) to $2,965; I-140 to $2,965; I-539 to $2,075; and I-765 for OPT/STEM-OPT to $1,780.
- Requests for premium processing postmarked on or after March 1, 2026 must include the updated amount and be filed with Form I-907 per USCIS instructions.
- USCIS states revenue from the increase will sustain premium processing, improve adjudication processes, address case backlogs, and fund adjudication and naturalization services.
- Premium processing remains optional with targeted reviews in roughly 15–45 business days, and coverage highlights outsized effects on Indian professionals, students, and employers.