Premium processing: fees and timeframes
Premium processing (Form I-907) buys a guaranteed USCIS decision window for certain work-based petitions. Here are the current fees and timeframes and how they compare with standard processing.
Premium processing fees and timeframes
| Form | Classification | Fee | USCIS acts within |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-129 | H-1B (incl. H-1B2, H-1B3), E-1, E-2, E-3, H-3, L-1 (incl. blanket L), O, P, Q, TN | $2,965 | 15 business days |
| I-129 | H-2B or R-1 | $1,780 | 15 business days |
| I-140 | EB-1A (E11), EB-1B (E12), EB-2 (E21, not NIW), EB-3 (E31, E32, EW3) | $2,965 | 15 business days |
| I-140 | EB-1C multinational executive or manager (E13), EB-2 National Interest Waiver | $2,965 | 45 business days |
| I-539 | Change of status to F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1 or M-2 | $2,075 | 30 business days |
| I-765 | OPT and STEM OPT work permits | $1,780 | 30 business days |
Premium vs. standard processing
| Form | Standard (median) | Premium | Premium requests, Apr–Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-129 | 9.5 months | 15 business days | 154,600 |
| I-140 | 3.9 months | 15 or 45 business days | 34,563 |
| I-765 | 3.3 months | 30 business days (OPT only) | 38,652 |
| I-539 | 5.7 months | 30 business days (F/J/M only) | 3,826 |
Who uses premium processing
USCIS received 231,641 premium processing requests in Apr–Jun 2026. Two thirds were for I-129 worker petitions such as H-1B; I-140 immigrant petitions and OPT work permits made up most of the rest. For OPT, almost half of the requests were upgrades of applications that were already pending.
Frequently asked questions
How long does premium processing take?
USCIS guarantees to act on the case within 15 business days for most classifications (H-1B, L-1, O-1, most I-140s), 30 business days for OPT/STEM OPT work permits and I-539 changes to F, J or M status, and 45 business days for EB-1C and EB-2 NIW I-140s. "Act" means an approval, denial, request for evidence or notice of intent to deny; an RFE stops the clock, and a new period starts when USCIS receives the response.
How much is the premium processing fee?
$2,965 for H-1B, L-1, O-1, E, TN and most I-140 petitions; $1,780 for H-2B and R-1 petitions and for OPT/STEM OPT work permits; $2,075 for I-539 changes to F, J or M status (USCIS fee schedule, edition 10/26/26). The fee is paid in addition to the regular filing fee, and USCIS refunds it if it misses the deadline.
Is premium processing worth it for H-1B?
Without it, the median time to a decision on Form I-129 was 9.5 months in Apr–Jun 2026 (all classifications). With premium processing USCIS acts within 15 business days. Employers use it for 154,600 I-129 petitions per quarter, mostly when a start date, travel or a job change depends on the approval.
Can I upgrade a pending case to premium processing?
Yes, if the form and classification are eligible: file Form I-907 for the pending case. In Apr–Jun 2026, 52,452 of 231,641 premium requests were upgrades of pending cases; the rest were filed together with the petition.
Is premium processing available for I-485, I-130 or N-400?
No. Premium processing only exists for Forms I-129, I-140, I-539 (certain student and exchange visitor changes of status) and I-765 (OPT and STEM OPT). Green card, family petition and citizenship cases cannot be expedited this way; USCIS only grants case-by-case expedite requests for urgent reasons.
- USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/26/26)
- USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
- USCIS Form I-907 requests by form, Apr–Jun 2026
Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.