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USCIS premium processing fees from 1 March 2026

Since 1 March 2026 the premium processing fee on Form I-907 is $1,780, $2,075 or $2,965 depending on the category (8 CFR 106.4(c)). USCIS must act within 15, 30 or 45 business days or refund the fee, except where it opens a fraud investigation. The fee cannot be waived and must be paid in addition to the filing fee.

Premium processing is a paid service: USCIS takes a fee, on top of the normal filing fee, and in return commits to take a first action on the case within a fixed number of business days. It does not guarantee approval. People searching for it usually want the current fee, which forms qualify and how long the clock is. The regulation answers all three, and the amounts changed on 1 March 2026.

This page uses 8 CFR 106.4 as in force on 1 October 2026 and the Federal Register rule that set the March 2026 amounts (91 FR 1059, document 2026-00321), read on 9 October 2026. It does not say whether premium processing is worth buying or whether a case suits it. That depends on the case.

Premium processing is not a general speed-up. It is available only for the benefit requests listed in the regulation, and USCIS controls when each is open for it. Several forms people ask about, including the green card application (I-485), travel documents (I-131), replacement green cards (I-90) and the citizenship application (N-400), are not on the list.

The three fee levels

8 CFR 106.4(c) lists the designated benefit requests and the fee to request premium processing. As at 9 October 2026 there are three amounts:

| Fee | Applies to (8 CFR 106.4(c)) | |---|---| | $2,965 | E-1, E-2 and E-3 nonimmigrant applications; H-1B (and H-1B1) and H-3 petitions; L petitions; O-1 and O-2; P petitions; Q petitions; section 214(e) applications; I-140 petitions in EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-1C, EB-2 (including with a national interest waiver under 203(b)(2)(B)), and EB-3 categories (203(b)(3)(A)(i), (ii) and (iii)) | | $2,075 | Change-of-status applications under INA 248 to F, J or M classification; and change of status to dependents of E, H, L, O, P or R nonimmigrants, or extension of stay in that classification | | $1,780 | H-2B petitions; R petitions; applications for employment authorization (Form I-765) |

What changed on 1 March 2026. The rule at 91 FR 1059 raised the fees "to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025" using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The rule states the arithmetic: the CPI-U was 305.109 in June 2023 and 322.561 in June 2025, a 5.72 percent increase. "The premium processing fees that were $1,685, increase to $1,780; the premium processing fees that were $1,965, increase to $2,075; and the premium processing fees that were $2,805, increase to $2,965." The rule was effective on 1 March 2026, and "Requests for premium processing postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the new fee." DHS notes that it generally rounds USCIS fees established by rulemaking to the nearest $5.

Next adjustment. 8 CFR 106.4(d) says the fee "may be adjusted by notification in the Federal Register on a biennial basis" using the CPI-U for June, which is the statutory power in INA 286(u)(3)(C). The previous adjustment took effect on 26 February 2024. Check the USCIS site for any later announcement.

Not discounted. 8 CFR 106.2(a)(58) says the online filing discount in 106.1(g) "does not apply to a request for premium processing."

It is a separate payment. 8 CFR 106.4(b): "The fee to request premium processing service may not be waived and must be paid in addition to other filing fees. USCIS may require the premium processing service fee be paid in a separate remittance from other filing fees." The 2026 rule repeats that the fee must be "in a separate remittance." 106.4(b) also says a request is made "on the form and in the manner prescribed by USCIS in the form instructions," and the rule names Form I-907.

The clock: 15, 30 and 45 business days

8 CFR 106.4(e) sets the processing timeframe for each category:

| Timeframe | Applies to | |---|---| | 15 business days | E-1/E-2/E-3, H-1B, H-2B, H-3, L, O, P, Q, R and section 214(e) requests; I-140 in EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 without a waiver, and EB-3 categories | | 30 business days | Change of status to F, J or M; change of status or extension for dependents of E, H, L, O, P or R; applications for employment authorization | | 45 business days | I-140 in EB-1C (multinational executives and managers) and EB-2 with a national interest waiver under 203(b)(2)(B) |

What a business day is. 106.4(e)(22): "a day that the Federal Government is open for business, and does not include weekends, federally observed holidays, or days on which Federal Government offices are closed, such as for weather-related or other reasons." The closure "may be nationwide or in the region where the adjudication of the benefit for which premium processing is sought will take place."

What USCIS must do inside the window. 106.4(f)(1): USCIS "will issue an approval notice, denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, or a request for evidence within the premium processing timeframe." Premium processing therefore promises an action, not a decision. A request for evidence or a notice of intent to deny satisfies it.

When the clock starts. The start date differs by category (106.4(f)(2)). For the 15-business-day categories, it starts "on the date the form prescribed by USCIS, together with the required fee(s), are received by USCIS." For the 30- and 45-business-day categories (including the employment authorization application, EB-1C and NIW), it starts "on the date that all prerequisites for adjudication, the form prescribed by USCIS, and fee(s) are received by USCIS." The form instructions say what counts as a prerequisite for a given category.

What stops the clock. 106.4(f)(3): if USCIS issues a notice of intent to deny or a request for evidence, "the premium processing timeframe will stop and will recommence with a new timeframe … on the date that USCIS receives a response." So a premium-processing case that draws an RFE does not finish in 15 days. It gets a first action in 15, then a new full period starts when the response arrives. Our guide to the request for evidence covers response deadlines.

Refunds, suspension and what premium processing does not do

Refund. 8 CFR 106.4(f)(4): "USCIS will refund the premium processing service fee but continue to process the case if USCIS does not take adjudicative action described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section within the applicable processing timeframe." The refund covers the premium fee only. The underlying filing fee is not refunded, and the case stays in the queue.

Fraud exception. 106.4(f)(5): "USCIS may retain the premium processing fee and not take an adjudicative action … within the applicable processing timeframe, and not notify the person who filed the request, if USCIS opens an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation relating to the immigration benefit request." There is no obligation to tell the filer.

Availability can change. 106.4(g)(1): USCIS "will announce by its official internet website … the benefit requests described in paragraph (c) of this section for which premium processing may be requested, the dates upon which such availability commences or ends, or any conditions that may apply." And (g)(2) lets USCIS "suspend the availability of premium processing for immigration benefit requests designated for premium processing if circumstances prevent the completion of processing of a significant number of such requests within the applicable processing timeframe." The regulation therefore lists what could be designated; the USCIS site says what is open now. Check it on the day.

Wrong fee or a dishonored payment. 8 CFR 106.1(c)(2): "If the approved benefit request requires multiple fees, this paragraph (c) would apply if any fee submitted is not honored, including a fee to request premium processing under § 106.4." The approval "may be revoked upon notice, rescinded, or canceled," and "Other fees that were paid for a benefit request that is revoked upon notice under this paragraph (c) will be retained and not refunded." Because the premium fee must be paid in correct amount and often separately, the usual way to get it wrong is the amount: the 2026 rule says requests postmarked on or after 1 March 2026 "must include the new fee."

What premium processing does not change. The standard for approval is the same. It does not waive any filing requirement or evidence need. It is not available for the I-485, I-131, I-90, I-130, I-129F, I-751, I-601A or N-400, because none is in 106.4(c). The regulation lists employment authorization applications generally, and the USCIS website says which categories of work permit are open for premium processing at a given time.

Costs in context. Premium processing for a petition adds to the filing fee. On the 106.2 and 106.4 figures read on 9 October 2026, an I-129 H-1B petition at $780 base fee plus $2,965 premium fee is $3,745 before other charges such as the asylum program fee and the fraud fee, which are separate line items in 106.2(c). That is arithmetic from the regulation. It is not a statement of the total an employer would pay, and the pending H-1B payment and fee proposals are covered on separate pages.

Mistakes to avoid and who can help

The regulation points to several recurring problems.

  • Using the old fee after 1 March 2026. A request postmarked on or after that date with the old amount does not include the correct fee.
  • Combining payments the instructions say to separate. 106.4(b) lets USCIS require a separate remittance. The form instructions say whether it does.
  • Expecting a decision in the window. The commitment is to act, which can mean a request for evidence.
  • Treating the refund as automatic compensation. The refund is of the premium fee, and the case continues. A fraud investigation removes it.
  • Assuming a category is open. Designation in the regulation and availability on the USCIS site are two different things.
  • Forgetting that the clock restarts. An RFE response means a fresh period.

Who files and decides. A premium processing request is typically made by the employer or petitioner in an employment case, and by the applicant for an employment authorization application. A person who pays for advice on whether to request it, or on how to answer an RFE that follows, is paying for legal advice. 8 CFR 292.1 lists who may represent a person before USCIS: attorneys, accredited representatives of recognized non-profits and a few other categories. See our guide to who can legally give immigration advice.

Checking the current position. USCIS's own fee schedule (G-1055) and the Form I-907 page show the current premium amounts and instructions. Check both on the day you file.

Finding a licensed attorney or accredited representative

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See attorneys and accredited representatives in the directory.

Notaries public, notarios and immigration consultants are not lawyers and cannot give immigration legal advice. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can.

Migratio is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can advise you.

Questions people ask

How much is premium processing in 2026?

Since 1 March 2026, 8 CFR 106.4(c) lists $2,965 for most employment-based petitions and nonimmigrant categories, $2,075 for certain change-of-status applications, and $1,780 for H-2B, R and employment authorization applications. The fee is paid in addition to the normal filing fee and cannot be waived.

How long does premium processing take?

USCIS must issue an approval, denial, notice of intent to deny or request for evidence within 15 business days for most categories, 30 for change of status and employment authorization applications, and 45 for EB-1C and national interest waiver petitions (8 CFR 106.4(e)). A request for evidence or notice of intent to deny restarts the clock when answered.

Do I get a refund if USCIS misses the deadline?

The premium processing fee is refunded and the case continues, unless USCIS opened a fraud or misrepresentation investigation, in which case it may keep the fee (8 CFR 106.4(f)(4)–(5)). The underlying filing fee is not refunded.

Is premium processing available for the I-485 or N-400?

No. 8 CFR 106.4(c) lists the designated benefit requests, and the green card application (I-485), travel document (I-131), replacement card (I-90) and naturalization application (N-400) are not among them. USCIS announces availability on its website.

Can the premium processing fee be waived or discounted?

No. 8 CFR 106.4(b) says it may not be waived, and 8 CFR 106.2(a)(58) says the $50 online filing discount does not apply to a request for premium processing.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • USCIS fees, October 2026: every main form — As at 9 October 2026 the paper fee is $675 for the I-130, $1,440 for an adult I-485, $520 for a standard I-765, $750 for the I-751 and $760 for the N-400. Four fees rise on 16 October 2026, EB-5 fees change on 30 November 2026, and several changes are only proposed.
  • Form I-765 fee 2026: $520, $260, $570 or no fee — The standard paper fee for Form I-765 is $520 (8 CFR 106.2(a)(44)). It is $260 with a pending I-485 filed with a fee after 1 April 2024, some groups pay nothing, and a statutory fee applies to initial asylum, parole and TPS work permits, rising from $560 to $570 on 16 October 2026.
  • USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE): the deadline, your options and what happens if you miss it — A Request for Evidence gives a date to respond, and under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(8)(iv) that response period can never be longer than twelve weeks. Additional time "may not be granted". The regulation lets the applicant send everything, send part and ask for a decision on the record, or withdraw.
  • Filing online with USCIS: the $50 discount, mandatory e-filing and payment rules — Under 8 CFR 106.1(g), forms filed online cost $50 less than the 106.2 fee unless the regulation says otherwise. Since 11 August 2026 USCIS may require a form to be e-filed once it has been available online for 180 days and USCIS has given 60 days' notice. Fees must come from a US bank in US currency.
  • USCIS and immigration court fee changes, October–November 2026: what moves when — Fees change on three dates this autumn: EOIR court fees on 1 October 2026 (appeal to the BIA $1,060), four USCIS H.R. 1 fees on 16 October 2026 (annual asylum fee $105, parole fee $1,050, initial asylum/parole/TPS work permit $570, TPS $520) and EB-5 fees on 30 November 2026. The N-400, I-130, I-485 and I-751 fees are not among them. Several higher fees are only PROPOSED.
  • Who can legally give US immigration advice? — Attorneys in good standing and DOJ-accredited representatives of recognized non-profits can advise and represent you; a few narrow categories can appear unpaid. Notaries, notarios and immigration consultants cannot give immigration legal advice. Form preparers may only fill in blanks for a nominal fee.