On January 9, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that Premium Processing Fees will increase, effective March 1, 2026.
Per the announcement, the following are examples of the USCIS application types eligible for Premium Processing that are common for our international students/scholars:
Form I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization (for F-1 Optional Practical Training, F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training Extension): increase from $1,685 to $1,780
Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (for applications requesting change to F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2): $1,965 to $2,075
Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (including H-1B, E-3, O-1, TN, and other eligible statuses): $2,805 to $2,965
Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers (for employment-based Permanent Residence) : $2,805 to $2,965
Please see the full USCIS announcement, all eligible application types for Premium Processing and the new fees, here.