New Delhi, January 10: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new increase in H-1B visa fees and premium processing charges, effective March 1, 2026. The changes affect multiple employment-based and nonimmigrant visa categories and follow inflation-linked adjustments permitted under federal law.

The announcement comes after a broad restructuring of USCIS fees over the past two years, aimed at reducing application backlogs, improving efficiency and strengthening staffing across the US immigration system. 'US Visa Is a Privilege, Not a Right': US Embassy in India Issues Warning for Student Visa Holders; Know How Legal Violations Could Cost Students Their Visas.

New H-1B Premium Processing Fees Effective March 2026

From March 1, 2026, premium processing fees for Form I-129, used for H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visa petitions, will increase from USD 2,805 to USD 2,965.

The revision is part of a biennial inflation adjustment process authorized by the USCIS Stabilization Act, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to revise fees based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. H-1B and H-4 Applicants Alert: US Issue ‘Worldwide Alert’ for H-Visa Applicants to Extended Wait Times Amid Expanded Social Media Vetting.

Other increases include:

• Form I-539 (change or extension of status), premium processing fee raised to USD 2,075

• Form I-765 (employment authorization), premium processing fee increased to USD 1,780

USCIS has warned that applications postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, with outdated fee amounts will be rejected.

Premium Processing Timeline Shift

Along with higher fees, USCIS has changed the premium processing timeline from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.

This update effectively adds nearly one additional week to total processing time, affecting employers and foreign professionals who rely on expedited decisions for time-sensitive hiring.

Earlier H-1B Fee Increases Remain in Effect

These changes build on a major USCIS fee hike introduced in April 2024, when the base H-1B petition filing fee rose by nearly 70 percent, from USD 460 to USD 780 for large employers.

• Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees and nonprofit organizations continue to pay a reduced filing fee of USD 460.

The H-1B registration fee for the FY 2026 cap season remains set at USD 215, up sharply from the earlier USD 10 lottery fee.

Why USCIS Is Increasing Fees

As a fee-funded agency, USCIS says the increases are necessary to meet rising operational costs. The additional revenue will be used to:

• Hire more immigration officers

• Modernize outdated technology systems

• Support the US asylum processing program

By raising costs for high-demand services such as premium processing, the agency aims to stabilize its budget while keeping expedited adjudication available for US employers seeking specialised global talent.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2026 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).