# 2026-00321: Faster Immigration? USCIS Raises Fees to Fight Inflation

2026-00321, Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees, is a Federal Register rule from Homeland Security Department published 2026-01-12, effective 2026-03-01 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00321
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00321
- Title: Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Homeland Security Department
- Citation: 91 FR 1059
- Published: 2026-01-12
- Effective: 2026-03-01
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Faster Immigration? USCIS Raises Fees to Fight Inflation

## Summary

Starting March 1, 2026, folks using premium processing for certain immigration requests will pay a bit more because USCIS is raising fees to keep up with inflation from 2023 to 2025. If you send in your request on or after that date, be ready to include the new, higher fee. This change helps USCIS keep things speedy while covering rising costs.

## Abstract

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing premium processing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025 according to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

## Effects PRIA read

- New fees required starting March 1, 2026: cost, medium. If you mail a premium processing request on or after March 1, 2026, you must include the new, higher USCIS premium processing fee with that filing. The rule says requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the new fee.
- Premium fees rise by 5.72%: cost, medium. USCIS increased premium processing fees by 5.72%, using the CPI-U change from June 2023 (305.109) to June 2025 (322.561). As a result, existing premium fees were adjusted to $1,780, $2,075, and $2,965 depending on the benefit request.
- I-129 petitioners pay higher fees: cost, medium. If you file premium processing (Form I-907) for an I-129 petition: H-2B or R-1 filings go from $1,685 to $1,780 (a $95 increase); all other eligible I-129 classifications go from $2,805 to $2,965 (a $160 increase). DHS estimates an additional $50,132,815 annually collected from the I-129 population.
- I-140 premium processing fee increase: cost, medium. If you request premium processing (Form I-907) for an I-140 immigrant petition, the fee rises from $2,805 to $2,965 (a $160 increase). DHS estimates this will raise an additional $21,701,760 annually from the I-140 population.
- Students changing status face $110 hike: cost, medium. If you file Form I-539 to change status to F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, or M-2 and request premium processing, the fee rises from $1,965 to $2,075 (a $110 increase). DHS estimates annual additional transfers of $513,260 from this population.
- OPT/STEM students pay $95 more: cost, low. F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT who request premium processing (Form I-765 + I-907) will see the premium fee increase from $1,685 to $1,780 (a $95 increase). DHS estimates this yields $4,771,945 in additional annual transfers from currently eligible OPT/STEM appli…
- Fees are non-waivable and separate: cost, low. The premium processing fee may not be waived and must be paid in addition to other filing fees and in a separate remittance. Filers must submit the Form I-907 and correct fee as prescribed.
- DHS will collect $77.1M more annually: cost, high. DHS estimates the premium processing fee increases will generate an additional $77,119,780 in annual transfer payments to DHS from fee-paying applicants and petitioners.

## Related documents

- [2026-20660](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20660): Optional Practical Training Fees, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20650](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20650): Low-Value Shipments, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20087](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20087): Clarification of Certain Mariner Training Requirements, 2026-10-01
- [2026-20016](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20016): U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Immigrant Visa, Fifth Preference (EB-5) Fee Rule, 2026-09-30
- [2026-17390](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17390): Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Electronic Export Manifest for Rail Cargo, 2026-08-26
- [2026-17324](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17324): Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions, 2026-08-25

## Sources
- [2026-00321 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/12/2026-00321/adjustment-to-premium-processing-fees)
- [2026-00321 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-12/pdf/2026-00321.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00315, List of Rules To Be Reviewed Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00315)
- [Next: 2026-00326, Safety Zone; Hillsborough Bay, Tampa, FL](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00326)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00321 (as of 2026-06-11).