On Friday, January 9th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the United States issued an announcement regarding a final rule to increase the processing fee for expedited visa applications by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reflect the inflation rate from June 2023 to June 2025.
The announcement stated that the USCIS Stabilization Act authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to adjust the expedited processing fee every two years to account for inflation. This fee will continue to be adjusted across the entire USCIS organization to reflect the actual value of the expedited processing services provided by the immigration agency.
The revenue generated from this fee increase will be used to provide expedited processing services, improve adjudication processes, meet adjudication demands including processing backlogged cases, and provide funding for USCIS adjudication and naturalization services.
This regulation will take effect on March 1, 2026. Any expedited processing applications submitted on or after that date must pay the new fee, submit Form I-907 – Request for Premium Processing, and follow the instructions provided in the form.
Please note that expedited processing can only be requested for benefits that are eligible for such services.
As of March 1, 2026, individuals submitting expedited processing applications will need to be prepared to pay the updated fee and complete the necessary paperwork as outlined in Form I-907. This adjustment aims to ensure that the USCIS can continue to provide efficient and timely services amidst the changing economic landscape.
In conclusion, the new fee structure for expedited processing underscores the importance of adapting to inflation rates and maintaining the quality of services provided by the USCIS. Applicants are advised to be aware of these changes and comply with the updated requirements to avoid any processing delays in their visa applications.