USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees from March 1, 2026

It is official. As of January 9, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that we will see USCIS Premium Processing Fees to Increase March 1, 2026.

While the government cites "inflation adjustments" (specifically the CPI increase from June 2023 to June 2025) as the justification, at Shan Potts Law Offices, we see the timing differently. By scheduling this hike right before the H-1B lottery filing window opens in April, USCIS is maximizing revenue from the year's busiest season.

If you are a founder or HR director managing a budget, this isn't just a $160 annoyance—it’s a compliance tripwire. Here is exactly what is changing and how we are advising our high-growth clients to maneuver.

The Breakdown: USCIS Premium Processing Fees to Increase March 1, 2026

The rule affects Form I-907, which is the "fast pass" that guarantees a 15-day or 30-day response. If your check is postmarked on or after March 1, you must pay the new amount.

Here are the specific numbers you need to send to your finance team today:

Visa Category	Form	Current Fee	New Fee
H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN	I-129	$2,805	$2,965
Green Card (EB-1/EB-2)	I-140	$2,805	$2,965
Students (OPT/STEM OPT)	I-765	$1,685	$1,780
Change of Status (F/J/M)	I-539	$1,965	$2,075
H-2B / R-1	I-129	$1,685	$1,780

The "Hidden" Risk: It’s Not the Cost, It’s the Rejection

The biggest danger of this update isn't the extra $160; it is the rejection notice.

USCIS lockboxes are notoriously unforgiving. If you file a case on March 2nd with a check for $2,805 (the old fee), they won't bill you for the difference. They will reject the entire package and mail it back to you weeks later. In that time, your employee's status could expire, or you could miss a critical cap deadline.

We have seen perfectly strong H-1B petitions fail because an accounts payable department printed a check for the "2025 rate" out of habit.

The Shan Potts Playbook: 3 Steps to Beat the Hike

We don't just report the news; we engineer the workaround. Here is our strategy for Q1 2026:

1. The "Clean Sweep" Audit (Action: Today) We are reviewing every pending case in our pipeline. If we have an O-1 or EB-2 NIW that is ready to file, we are pushing to get it postmarked before February 28. There is no strategic advantage to waiting and paying the "inflation tax."

2. The H-1B Cap "Checkbook" Strategy For the upcoming H-1B lottery (March registration), the $10 registration fee is unchanged. However, if selected, your full petition will be filed after April 1.

• The Move: Update your internal budget forecasts now. Your H-1B spend for FY2027 just increased by roughly 6%. Communicate this to your CFO today so the checks cut in April don't bounce due to "unexpected variance."

  
  

3. The "Upgrade" Trap If you have a regular processing case pending right now (e.g., an H-1B extension filed in December), you can upgrade it to Premium Processing today for $2,805. If you wait until March to decide you need speed, you will pay $2,965.

• The Move: If your employee has travel plans in April, upgrade now. Don't wait for the system to get clogged and more expensive.

The Bottom Line

The headline says USCIS Premium Processing Fees to Increase March 1, 2026, but the real story is operational discipline.

At Shan Potts, we aren't just filing forms; we are protecting your margins. If you have a high-volume visa portfolio, contact us for a fee-impact audit before the March deadline hits.