The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that fees will increase for all requests for Premium Processing. The increases will apply to all requests for premium processing that are postmarked on or after February 26. According to the USCIS, one reason for the increase is to account for inflation in 2021, 2022, and the first half of 2023.
The following table, provided by the USCIS, shows the fees currently in effect as well as the fees that will apply starting February 26:
|
Form |
Previous Fee |
New Fee |
|
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker |
$1,500 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status) $2,500 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2)) |
$1,685 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status) $2,805 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2)) |
|
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker |
$2,500 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13 and E21 (NIW)) |
$2,805 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13 and E21 (NIW)) |
|
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status |
$1,750 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and R-2) |
$1,965 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and R-2) |
|
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization |
$1,500 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C) |
$1,685 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C) |
It is important to recognize that different terms and conditions apply to each of the above categories. Employers and individuals using the premium processing option should first ensure that premium processing is available for the specific benefit being requested.
Conclusion
Fee increases are never welcome, but premium processing remains an important option for employer petitioners and individual applicants. Without premium processing, the adjudication process can take several months. The guaranteed premium processing time for most non-immigrant and immigrant employment-based petitions is 15 calendar days (45 days for certain Form I-140 Immigrant Petitions) and 30 days for Form I-539 and I-765 applications filed by individuals.
Constangy’s Immigration Practice Group is available to answer any questions that you may have.