USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fee Starting on October 1, 2018

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusting-premium-processing-fee

Pasricha & Patel

USCIS is increasing the premium processing fee from $1,225.00 to $1,410.00, starting on October 1, 2018. USCIS explains that the fee increase is needed because: (1) due to increased demand for this service, the USCIS needs to hire more staff and improve and upgrade its information technology systems to better serve the customers; (2) the fee has not been changed since 2010, so this is also being increased to keep up with inflationary adjustments.

With the increased processing times for the regular H-1B petitions, more employers have no choice but to pursue premium processing for their filed and/or pending I-129 H-1B petitions. And with this trend, we also can understand why the USCIS needs to increase its premium processing fee too.

We also do not know if there will be any other fee adjustments made to other forms, but we will have to wait and see whether that may be the case or not.

Should our readers have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office to schedule a consultation to discuss this matter further.