USCIS hikes premium processing fees from March 1, 2026; OPT fee to ~$1.62 lakh

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will raise USCIS premium processing fees from March 1, 2026, affecting international students and graduates who pay extra for faster adjudication—especially for OPT/STEM OPT filings. USCIS says any Form I-907 (premium processing request) postmarked on or after March 1, 2026 must include the new fee, otherwise it will be rejected.

For Indian students, the most relevant change is the premium processing fee for Form I-765 (Employment Authorisation)—used for OPT and STEM OPT—which increases to $1,780.

What changed and why

DHS says the fee update is an inflation adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) from June 2023 through June 2025, and the revised fees apply from March 1, 2026.

USCIS also states that revenue from the increase will fund premium processing operations and broader adjudication capacity, including improvements aimed at handling backlogs.

New premium processing fees that matter to students

USCIS’s fee table and DHS’s final rule show these key amounts effective March 1, 2026:

• Form I-765 (OPT/STEM OPT premium processing): $1,780
• Form I-539 (change of status premium processing, certain categories): $2,075
• Higher premium band used for many Form I-129 employer petitions: $2,965 (relevant to graduates moving into employer-sponsored routes)

INR conversions for Indian students (indicative)

Using the rupee level reported at ₹90.86 per US dollar (Jan 17, 2026 close, as reported by Economic Times), the approximate INR cost is:

• $1,780 (I-765 premium / OPT): ~₹1,61,731
• $2,075 (I-539 premium): ~₹1,88,535
• $2,965 (higher premium band): ~₹2,69,400

Cost increase in INR terms (approx):

• OPT premium fee increases by $95, which is ~₹8,632 at ₹90.86/USD.
• I-539 premium fee increases by $110, which is ~₹9,995 at ₹90.86/USD.

Note: INR conversions are indicative; your bank/card may apply a different FX rate plus charges.

What to do now?

If you plan to use premium processing, check the postmark date carefully: USCIS says filings postmarked on/after March 1, 2026 must include the new fee.

Confirm your form category (I-765 vs I-539 vs employer petitions) and pay exactly the listed fee, because USCIS warns incorrect premium processing fees can lead to rejection of Form I-907.

Background

USCIS premium processing is requested via Form I-907 for eligible case types. DHS’s final rule sets the new fees and the March 1, 2026 effective/compliance date.