USCIS jolts applicants with a fee overhaul. Premium processing will cost more for F-1 students on OPT and for H-1B and L-1 filings. The new prices kick in March 2026. The rule is clear. Pay the new fee after the effective date or face rejection. Here is what changes, why it matters, and how to file smart. 🚨
What USCIS just changed
USCIS has finalized new immigration filing fees, including higher premium processing charges. The shift reaches across common forms, like the I-129 for work visas, the I-765 for work permits, and the I-539 for changes or extensions of status. The agency says it needs to recover costs, adjust for inflation, and chip away at backlogs.
Premium processing is a paid service for faster decisions within a set time. That clock still applies, and the refund rule remains. If USCIS misses its deadline, the premium fee is refunded. The base filing still continues.
The key date is March 2026. Any filing received on or after the effective date must include the new fee. Mailers, e-filers, and couriers all fall under the same rule.
Effective March 2026, USCIS will reject filings that do not include the updated fee. Rejection means no receipt date.
F-1 students on OPT, here is your playbook
OPT and STEM OPT applicants can request premium processing on Form I-765. That option will cost more in March 2026. For many students, the choice will be a budget call. Fast decisions help with job start dates, travel, and peace of mind. But not every case needs to pay extra.
Talk to your Designated School Official early. Your OPT timing is tight. The I-20 must be endorsed. The filing window is fixed. If your school timeline allows, filing before the fee change could save money. If you graduate in late spring 2026, you might be stuck with the new price. Plan for that now.
Keep status in focus. Use the right I-765 category code. Watch the 90 days of unemployment rule for regular OPT. For STEM OPT, align your training plan and employer E-Verify details. If travel is urgent, premium processing can reduce risk at the border by speeding your EAD approval.
Ask your DSO to review your I-20 and filing window now. A two week head start can be the difference between old and new fees.
Employers and counsel, adjust H-1B and L-1 budgets
H-1B season is looming. Registration and selections arrive before summer. Most cap cases file in the spring months. The fee changes land in March 2026, right as offers are finalized and petitions are drafted. L-1 managers and specialists will feel it too, especially for time sensitive transfers.
Premium processing is a tool, not a default. Use it to meet start dates, travel needs, and client deliverables. Skip it when the runway is long or where consular slots are slow anyway. Build a triage list now. Decide where speed is worth the price.
If you rely on blanket L program filings or large H-1B cohorts, centralize fee checks. Update vendor instructions. Refresh engagement letters. Make sure the payment method matches the new amounts on the exact day of filing.
- Immediate actions to take:
- Map cases that must file before March 2026
- Flag cases that can wait without harm
- Set a premium use policy by business need
- Update budgets for I-129, I-539, I-765, and I-907
Wrong fee, wrong edition, wrong lockbox can trigger rejection. A rejection can break status, miss a cap window, or delay a start date.
Your rights and risks
USCIS sets fees under a user fee model. The law allows the agency to charge what it costs to process cases. That is the policy driver behind this move. The duty on applicants is simple. Pay the listed fee in effect on the date USCIS receives your filing.
You keep key rights. With premium processing, you are entitled to a refund of the premium fee if USCIS misses its service time. Your case still gets a decision. Fee waivers exist for some humanitarian forms, but they do not cover premium processing. Most employment forms require full payment.
Rejections matter. If USCIS rejects your case for the wrong fee, you lose the receipt date. That can end work authorization or cause a gap in status. For H-1B extensions, timing affects work continuity. For F-1 students, it can affect unemployment days and travel plans.
- How to verify the fee before you file:
- Check the USCIS form page on the day you prepare payment
- Confirm the filing location and edition date
- Match the fee to your category and use of premium processing
- Use the correct payee and payment method for that lockbox or service center
The bottom line
This is a budget and timing story. The March 2026 fee change will reshape filing choices for students and employers. Some will file early to save. Others will pay more for speed. Everyone must get the fee right. Start planning today, case by case, so cost, status, and start dates all line up when it counts.
