The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently unveiled its final rule, outlining a forthcoming hike in premium processing fees for specific visa categories, including H-1B applications. Immigration experts are advising sponsoring employers to consider these new fees when budgeting for immigration expenses in the upcoming year. Typically, the H-1B application process commences with E-registrations in March, followed by a lottery, and concludes with the final visa application submission for chosen beneficiaries.
In a statement, USCIS explained that the additional revenue generated from the premium processing fee increase will be utilized to enhance premium processing services, improve adjudication processes, address adjudication demands, reduce the backlog of benefit request processing, and support USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.
What is the new fee and when will it take effect?
The premium processing fees for Form I-129, which is used for non-immigrant worker applications such as H-1B or L1 visas, will see a 12% increase, raising the fee to $2,805. This fee adjustment will go into effect on February 26, 2024.
For Form I-539, used by international students, spouses, and dependents of H-1B visa holders who wish to extend or change their non-immigrant status, the premium processing fee has been raised to $1,965 from its previous rate of $1,750. Additionally, the fee for Form I-765, used for employment authorization applications, including F-1 students applying for optional practical training (OPT), has been increased to $1,685 from $1,500.
What is premium processing?
Premium processing allows for expedited adjudication of visa applications within specified timeframes. For instance, Form I-539 and Form I-765 are processed within 30 calendar days, while H-1B premium processing is expedited within 15 calendar days.
The increase in premium processing fees is intended to account for inflation from June 2021 through June 2023. USCIS has indicated its intention to raise premium processing fees every two years in the future, but it is not currently planning to alter the processing timeframes for cases requesting premium service.
Pros:
The higher premium processing fees will provide USCIS with additional funds to enhance its services and reduce processing backlogs.
Premium processing offers expedited adjudication, allowing applicants to receive decisions on their visa applications more quickly.
USCIS plans to increase premium processing fees biennially, providing transparency and predictability for stakeholders.
Cons:
The fee hikes may pose a financial challenge for sponsoring employers and visa applicants.
Employers and individuals may need to adjust their budgeting to accommodate the higher fees, potentially causing delays in immigration plans.
While USCIS plans to adjust fees regularly, there is uncertainty about the extent of future increases and their impact on immigration costs.
In a statement, USCIS explained that the additional revenue generated from the premium processing fee increase will be utilized to enhance premium processing services, improve adjudication processes, address adjudication demands, reduce the backlog of benefit request processing, and support USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.
What is the new fee and when will it take effect?
The premium processing fees for Form I-129, which is used for non-immigrant worker applications such as H-1B or L1 visas, will see a 12% increase, raising the fee to $2,805. This fee adjustment will go into effect on February 26, 2024.
For Form I-539, used by international students, spouses, and dependents of H-1B visa holders who wish to extend or change their non-immigrant status, the premium processing fee has been raised to $1,965 from its previous rate of $1,750. Additionally, the fee for Form I-765, used for employment authorization applications, including F-1 students applying for optional practical training (OPT), has been increased to $1,685 from $1,500.
What is premium processing?
Premium processing allows for expedited adjudication of visa applications within specified timeframes. For instance, Form I-539 and Form I-765 are processed within 30 calendar days, while H-1B premium processing is expedited within 15 calendar days.
The increase in premium processing fees is intended to account for inflation from June 2021 through June 2023. USCIS has indicated its intention to raise premium processing fees every two years in the future, but it is not currently planning to alter the processing timeframes for cases requesting premium service.
Pros:
The higher premium processing fees will provide USCIS with additional funds to enhance its services and reduce processing backlogs.
Premium processing offers expedited adjudication, allowing applicants to receive decisions on their visa applications more quickly.
USCIS plans to increase premium processing fees biennially, providing transparency and predictability for stakeholders.
Cons:
The fee hikes may pose a financial challenge for sponsoring employers and visa applicants.
Employers and individuals may need to adjust their budgeting to accommodate the higher fees, potentially causing delays in immigration plans.
While USCIS plans to adjust fees regularly, there is uncertainty about the extent of future increases and their impact on immigration costs.
$2,805 for premium processing?! That’s a LOT for small businesses!!! But hey, at least they say it’s going to reduce the backlog, so maybe that’s worth it? 
