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USCIS Hikes Premium Processing Fees for H-1B, OPT, Green Cards from March 1

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced increased fees for premium processing of key immigration benefits, effective March 1. The changes affect H-1B, L-1, O-1, and employment-based green card petitions, as well as student OPT applications. The agency states the increased revenue will fund adjudication services and reduce backlogs. Indian nationals, who are major users of these visa categories, will be significantly impacted by the higher costs.

Key Points: USCIS Raises Premium Processing Fees for Visas from March 1

  • Fee hike effective March 1
  • H-1B/O-1/L-1 fee up to $2,965
  • OPT/STEM-OPT fee rises to $1,780
  • Major impact on Indian professionals & students
2 min read

USCIS raises premium processing fees from March 1

USCIS increases premium processing fees for H-1B, L-1, OPT, and green card petitions effective March 1, impacting Indian professionals and students.

"The revenue generated by this fee increase will be used to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudication processes... - USCIS notice"

Washington, Jan 10

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As an F-1 student about to apply for OPT, this is disheartening news. Every dollar counts when you're an international student. The increase from $1,685 to $1,780 might seem small to USCIS, but it's a big deal for us. Hope the "improvements to adjudication processes" they promise are real and reduce the wait times.
R
Rohit P
While the fee increase is frustrating, I understand the need for agencies to adjust for inflation. The key question is: will this actually lead to faster processing and clearing of the massive backlogs, especially for EB green cards? If the revenue is used effectively, it could benefit everyone in the long run.
S
Sarah B
My company handles visas for our Indian tech team. This adds a not-insignificant cost per employee, especially for L-1 transfers. It feels like a constant squeeze. The system relies heavily on foreign talent, yet makes it progressively harder and more expensive to bring them in.
N
Nikhil C
The perpetual green card wait for Indians is the elephant in the room. We pay thousands in fees every few years for visa extensions, and now even more for premium processing. When will there be a real solution for the backlog? Fee increases without systemic reform are just band-aids.
K
Kavya N
For families on dependent visas (like H-4 or L-2), the uncertainty is stressful. Premium processing for status changes gives some peace of mind. The hike is unfortunate, but if it means more predictable timelines for families trying to plan their lives, it might be worth it. Fingers crossed.

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