India, Jan. 10 -- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an increase in premium processing fees for immigration benefits, including the widely used H-1B visa. The new rates will take effect from March 1, 2026.

The premium processing fee, which allows applicants to receive faster decisions on certain work and employment-related visas, will rise from $2,805 to $2,965. The hike applies to a wide range of employment visas, including the H-1B and other work visa categories commonly used by US employers to hire foreign professionals.

USCIS said the increase reflects inflation between June 2023 and June 2025. The agency is acting under the USCIS Stabilization Act, which gives the Department of Homeland Security the autho...