US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a hike in fees for premium processing of several immigration visa categories, including the H-1B visa. This new fee will come in effective on March 1, 2026. This hike will impact several employment-based and non-immigrant visa applications commonly used by foreign professionals, including Indian nationals working or studying in the United States. Scroll down for more information.
US Hikes H-1B Visa Premium Processing Fee
According to Hindustan Times, US has announced that from March 1, 2026, new premium processing fees for immigration applications, including H-1B visas, will come into effect. As per the Department of Homeland Security, the USCIS Stabilization Act allows premium processing fees to be revised every two years. This is done to maintain the system’s value and inflation.
The additional revenue will be used to enhance premium processing services, speed up case reviews, reduce backlogs, and support USCIS adjudication and naturalisation functions. Applicants must pay the updated fee for the benefit they are requesting and follow USCIS instructions when submitting Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing.
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All About The New Rates
As per HT, the new premium processing fee for Form I-129 classifications, which includes H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1 and TN visas, will be $2,965, up from the current $2,805. The same processing fee will apply to Form I-140 immigrant petitions for alien workers across employment-based categories as well.
The premium processing fee for Form I-129, for H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status, will go up from $1,685 to $1,780. Under the revised fee schedule, premium processing fees will also increase for some applications to extend or change nonimmigrant status. For Form I-539, which covers F-1 and F-2 students, J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors, and M-1 and M-2 vocational students, the fee will rise from $1,965 to $2,075.
Also Read: US Embassy Warns B1/B2 Visa Holders: Misuse Of Visa Can Lead To Permanent Travel Ban
We hope this information is helpful to you all.
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