Premium Processing is expedited handling for certain case types via Form I-907. Starting March 1, 2026, USCIS increases the premium processing fee (the I-907 payment) — not the base filing fees for I-129/I-140/I-539/I-765. The key trigger is not “delivery to the lockbox,” but the send date (postmark / courier shipping-label date).
How much expedited service via I-907 will cost from 03/01/2026
Top tier (most common)
$2,965
Typically applies to most I-129 employer petitions (H-1B/L-1/O/P/Q/TN/E and others) and most I-140 cases (EB-1/EB-2/EB-3).
Was $2,805 → now $2,965 (+$160)Mid tier
$2,075
Used for certain I-539 change/extend scenarios when USCIS allows premium processing via I-907. This often matters for syncing status timelines inside the U.S.
Was $1,965 → now $2,075 (+$110)Lower tier
$1,780
Applies to I-129 for H-2B or R-1 and to certain I-765 categories (for example, OPT/STEM OPT — if your category is actually eligible).
Was $1,685 → now $1,780 (+$95)What changes on 03/01/2026 and why it matters
Premium Processing is often misunderstood as “fast approval.” In reality, it’s a paid service level: you file Form I-907 and USCIS commits to a timed procedural response — either a decision or an RFE/NOID. Approval still depends on eligibility and evidence.
The key cutoff trigger
For I-907, USCIS ties the correct fee amount to the send date: the USPS postmark or the date printed on the courier shipping label. That’s why “when the lockbox received it” is not the best mental model near the cutoff.
A simple example
If your package is shipped on Feb 28 (with a clear February date on the postmark/label), you usually fall under the old amount — even if the delivery happens in early March. If the ship date is March 1 or later, USCIS expects the new amount.
Premium Processing timelines (business days)
You’ll see “15 days” in many posts — and that often applies to I-129 and many I-140 categories. But premium timelines differ depending on the category USCIS assigns to the request.
Why people use premium in the first place
Premium is usually about a real calendar constraint: a start date, an extension window, family status alignment, a program start, or a time-sensitive work authorization need. In other words, you’re paying for a faster USCIS response timeline.
- I-129: employer needs a faster response for a worker’s start/extension and planning.
- I-140: accelerate a key step in an employment-based strategy when later actions depend on the result.
- I-539 / I-765: only when your specific category is eligible and timing is critical.
Table: form → new amount → when it applies
Every line below refers to the I-907 Premium Processing fee. This payment is added on top of the base filing fee for the underlying form. The “When it applies” column is intentionally written in plain language so readers can map it to real-life situations.
| Petition / category | When it applies (example) | New I-907 fee (from 03/01/2026) | Service time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I-129 H-1B, L-1, O-1/O-2, P, Q, TN, E-1/E-2/E-3, H-3 and others
Standard premium for most employer nonimmigrant petitions.
|
Employer files/extends a worker’s status and needs a faster USCIS response for real-world planning (start dates, extensions, travel timing, project calendars). |
$2,965
was $2,805 (+$160)
|
15 business days |
|
I-129 H-2B or R-1
Lower tier fee for these classifications.
|
Seasonal workers (H-2B) or religious workers (R-1) when start/extension timing is critical. |
$1,780
was $1,685 (+$95)
|
15 business days |
|
I-140 EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 (non-NIW), EB-3
Most employment-based I-140 cases are in the top fee tier.
|
Moving through an employment-based strategy where a faster I-140 result helps reduce uncertainty and unlock the next planning step. |
$2,965
was $2,805 (+$160)
|
15 business days |
|
I-140 EB-1C (multinational manager/executive)
Longer service time, same top-tier fee.
|
Corporate EB-1C case where the timeline matters, but remember the premium clock is longer for this category. |
$2,965
was $2,805 (+$160)
|
45 business days |
|
I-140 EB-2 NIW
NIW is also on the 45-business-day premium timeline.
|
Self-petition NIW case: premium can speed up the I-140 decision, but the service time is 45 business days. |
$2,965
was $2,805 (+$160)
|
45 business days |
| Application / category | When it applies (example) | New I-907 fee (from 03/01/2026) | Service time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I-539 change of status to F / J / M (and certain extension/dependent scenarios where eligible)
Premium applies only to designated scenarios.
|
Time-sensitive change/extend inside the U.S., for example syncing with a program start or aligning family status timelines. |
$2,075
was $1,965 (+$110)
|
30 business days |
|
I-765 eligible EAD (including OPT / STEM OPT in eligible categories)
Not all EAD categories qualify for I-907 premium.
|
A student needs faster EAD issuance to avoid losing a start date, and the category is listed as eligible for premium. |
$1,780
was $1,685 (+$95)
|
30 business days |
If you sent I-907 with the old amount: what happens (and how to avoid losing time)
The key is not to confuse outcomes. Denial is a decision on the merits after review. Rejection/return happens at intake when the filing is not accepted (for example, due to an incorrect fee). With an incorrect I-907 payment, the common problem is a return: premium doesn’t start and you lose time re-filing.
What “postmarked on or after 03/01/2026” means in practice
If the package was shipped before March 1, 2026 and the postmark/shipping-label date is clear, you typically have a shot at the old amount — even if delivery happens in March.
- Keep your shipment receipt showing the date.
- Take a photo of the shipping label before drop-off (internal QC).
If the postmark/label date is March 1, 2026 or later and the payment does not match the new amount, USCIS can return the premium request. Even a small difference ($95 / $110 / $160) is still an incorrect fee.
- The riskiest window is March 1–3: many people mistakenly focus on delivery date.
- If fees are combined into one payment, the entire filing is more likely to be treated as improperly filed.
If the ship date cannot be proven cleanly, you are in a gray zone. The safer approach is using the correct new amount and keeping clear documentation of the shipment date.
- Keep the carrier receipt with a readable date.
- Make sure tape doesn’t cover or smear the date on the label.
What typically happens if the premium fee is incorrect
The most common outcome is that USCIS does not accept (reject/return) the I-907 portion and sends it back with the payment. What happens to the underlying form depends on how you structured payments.
- Confirm the correct tier for your case: $2,965 vs $2,075 vs $1,780 — and confirm eligibility where applicable (I-539/I-765 scenarios).
- Separate payments: one payment for the base form and a separate payment for I-907 premium.
- Check the I-907 basics: correct identifiers, signature, and correct filing location per USCIS instructions for your case type.
- Refile quickly with clean proof of the shipment date and a complete copy of the packet retained for your records.
FAQ: premium processing fee 2026 (I-907)
1) What is the I-907 fee from March 1, 2026 for H-1B, L-1, and O-1?
2) Premium processing for I-140 in 2026: how much does it cost and how long does it take?
3) What does “postmarked on or after March 1, 2026” mean?
4) If I shipped on February 28 but delivery was in March, which amount applies?
5) What happens if you send I-907 after March 1 with the old amount?
6) Does premium processing guarantee approval? What about refunds?
7) Can I file I-907 online and not worry about postmark?
Official sources
The links below are the primary references for the March 1, 2026 adjustment, premium processing timelines, and official instructions for I-907 and related forms.
Federal Register: Adjustment of Premium Processing Fees (effective March 1, 2026)
The official publication that announces the premium fee change and its effective date.
eCFR: 8 CFR 106.4 (Premium Processing Service)
Regulatory rules for premium: timelines, RFE/NOID clock, and premium fee refund logic.
USCIS: Form I-907 — Request for Premium Processing Service
Official instructions, current fee information, and eligibility coverage for premium processing categories.
Explore Our Employment-Based Immigration Pathways
Quick internal navigation to key EB categories and the L-1 track.
