Key Points:
- Premium processing fee for H-1B, L-1, O-1 visas increases from $2,805 to $2,965 effective March 1, 2026
- H-2B and R-1 visa premium processing rises from $1,685 to $1,780
- Form I-539 student/exchange visitor applications increase from $1,965 to $2,075
- Employment authorization (OPT/STEM-OPT) premium processing jumps from $1,685 to $1,780
- Fee increases reflect inflation adjustment from June 2023 to June 2025
- Indian nationals, largest beneficiaries of H-1B program, will be significantly impacted
US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an increase in fees for premium processing of several immigration benefits, including the H-1B visa, effective March 1, 2026. USCIS said the premium processing fee has been increased to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The changes affect key employment-based and non-immigrant filings widely used by foreign professionals, including Indian nationals working or studying in the United States.
Revised Fee Schedule Details
Under the revised fee schedule, the premium processing fee for Form I-129 petitions for H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status will rise from $1,685 to $1,780. Premium processing for all other available Form I-129 classifications, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1 and TN visas, will increase from $2,805 to $2,965. The same $2,965 premium processing fee will apply to Form I-140 immigrant petitions for alien workers across employment-based categories, up from the previous $2,805, USCIS said.
Premium processing fees will also rise for certain applications to extend or change nonimmigrant status. For Form I-539 applications covering F-1 and F-2 students, J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors, and M-1 and M-2 vocational students, the fee will increase from $1,965 to $2,075. For applicants seeking expedited employment authorization, USCIS said the premium processing fee for Form I-765 applications, including Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM-OPT classifications, will increase from $1,685 to $1,780.
Impact on Indian Professionals and Students
The fee changes are expected to have a direct impact on Indian professionals, students, and employers, who make up a significant share of H-1B, L-1, employment-based green card, and OPT filings. Premium processing is often used by employers and applicants seeking faster adjudication timelines for job changes, extensions, travel planning, and status certainty. Indian nationals are the largest beneficiaries of US employment-based visas, particularly the H-1B programme, and also account for a substantial portion of the employment-based green card backlog. Optional Practical Training and STEM-OPT extensions are widely used by Indian students graduating from US universities as a bridge to longer-term work visas, H-1B.
USCIS Statement on Revenue Use
USCIS emphasized that the increased revenue would be used to support agency operations. “The revenue generated by this fee increase will be used to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudication processes; respond to adjudication demands, including processing backlogs; and otherwise fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services,” the notice said. The agency processes approximately 200,000 premium processing requests annually, generating substantial revenue that supports its operations while providing expedited services to applicants willing to pay the higher fees.
