The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially enforces its adjusted premium processing fees, marking a significant change for applicants filing Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing.
As previously announced, this change comes into effect on February 26, 2024. The fee adjustment follows a final rule published by USCIS on December 28, 2023.
USCIS Stabilization Act and Fee Adjustment
The adjustment in premium processing fees stems from the USCIS Stabilization Act, which established the current fee structure and authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to modify these fees biennially.
Despite keeping the fees unchanged for three years after the Act’s passage, DHS has now decided to revise them to account for inflation between June 2021 and June 2023, based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Fee Changes and Implications
The revised premium processing fees entail increases across various categories. Notable adjustments include raising certain fees from $1,500 to $1,685, $1,750 to $1,965, and $2,500 to $2,805. It is crucial to note that USCIS will reject any Form I-907 received with incorrect filing fees postmarked on or after February 26, 2024.
Affected Forms: This change applies to various forms, including:
| Form I-129 | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker |
| Form I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker |
| Form I-539 | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status |
| Form I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization |
Incorrect Fee Submissions: Applications postmarked on or after February 26, 2024, with the incorrect fee will be rejected and returned.
Updated Fee Structure
Here is the updated fee structure for some of the commonly filed forms:
| Form | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | $1,500 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status) <br> $2,500 (All other available Form I-129 classifications) | $1,685 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status) <br> $2,805 (All other available Form I-129 classifications) |
| Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | $2,500 (Employment-based (EB) classifications) | $2,805 (Employment-based (EB) classifications) |
| Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | $1,750 (Form I-539 classifications) | $1,965 (Form I-539 classifications) |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization | $1,500 (Certain F-1 students with categories) | $1,685 (Certain F-1 students with categories) |
Utilization of Increased Revenue
The revenue generated from these fee adjustments will be allocated towards several key areas, including:
- Enhancing premium processing services.
- Improving adjudication processes.
- Addressing adjudication demands and reducing processing backlogs for benefit requests.
- Financing USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.
Important Reminder
Applicants are reminded that they can only request premium processing for a benefit if USCIS has announced its availability on their official website.
For further information and updates, please visit the USCIS website.
By adhering to these adjustments, USCIS aims to streamline processes and better serve its applicants, ensuring a more efficient immigration system for all stakeholders.
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