USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees

Written By Brian D. Zuccaro, Esq.

USCIS has just announced that starting on March 1, 2026 the filing fees for premium processing will be increasing again. 

Premium Processing allows individuals or employers to pay an additional filing fee in order to speed up the processing time of certain applications from several months to anywhere from 15 to 45 business days depending on the type of case. 

You may recall that premium processing fees recently went up in February 2024. Based on the USCIS Stabilization Act, DHS has the authority to make biennial inflationary based adjustments to the premium processing fees. Pursuant to that statutory authority, DHS is increasing premium processing fees as follows. (As in the past, the new premium processing filing fee will be dependent on the type of benefit sought.)

  • I-129 petitions for TN, H-1B, E-1/E-2, O-1 visas, and other temporary work visas will be increasing to $2,965. 

  • I-129 petitions for H-2Bs and R-1s will be increasing to $1,780.

  • I-765 applications for EADs (where eligible) will be increasing to $1,780.

  • I-539 applications for F-1, J-1 and M-1 visas will be increasing to $2,075.

  • I-140 petitions for employment-based green card applications will be increasing to $2,965. 

You can read the yet to be formally published rule implementing these new premium processing filing fees here. If you have any questions about this announcement or the TN visa or green card process, please contact our office.

Brian D. Zuccaro, Esq.
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