Premium Processing Fees to Increase Effective March 1, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule, increasing premium processing fees for all benefit requests currently eligible for premium processing. The updated fees will apply to premium processing requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026.

Below is chart comparing the current premium processing fees and the new fees effective March 1, 2026:

A list of benefit requests currently eligible for premium processing, along with the applicable processing timeframes, is available here.

This increase in premium processing fees is authorized under the USCIS Stabilization Act, which permits DHS to adjust premium processing fees every two years based on inflation. In the final rule, DHS cited a 5.72% inflation increase between June 2023 and June 2025.

Employers and applicants are encouraged to file premium processing requests before the fee increase takes effect on March 1, 2026. Petitions that are already pending may also be upgraded to premium processing after filing.

Employers and applicants also should evaluate whether premium processing is necessary or beneficial for their filing. In some cases, a request for premium processing can result in a Request for Evidence as the agency tries to buy time instead of making a final decision within the shortened window of time, especially for petitions that must be adjudicated in 15 business days. We would be happy to help you with such strategy sessions.

This alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.