USCIS Premium Processing Fees Increase March 1, 2026

Effective March 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented increased premium processing fees for key employment-based immigration petitions. The final rule was published on January 12, 2026, and represents the agency's biennial inflation-based adjustment — the previous increase having taken effect in February 2024. For Form I-140 immigrant worker petitions, the premium processing fee rises from $2,805 to $2,965, an increase of $160. Most Form I-129 nonimmigrant worker petitions will see the same $160 increase to $2,965, while H-2B and R-1 classifications under I-129 will increase from $1,685 to $1,780 — a $95 rise. Form I-539 (extension/change of nonimmigrant status) increases from $1,965 to $2,075, and Form I-765 for F-1 OPT applicants rises from $1,685 to $1,780. For EB-3 applicants and sponsoring employers, the I-140 fee increase is the most directly relevant change. The new $2,965 fee applies to all premium processing requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. Petitions postmarked before that date remain subject to the previous $2,805 fee. Employers managing active EB-3 pipelines should review their immigration budgets and filing timelines to account for the higher fees. Strategic planning around when to file — particularly for I-140 petitions where premium processing is desired — can help manage costs in high-volume sponsorship situations. Separately, routine visa processing remains suspended at U.S. Embassies in Beirut and Jerusalem due to security concerns. Affected applicants should monitor the respective embassy websites for updates on rescheduling.