USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fee Starting on Monday, October 19, 2020
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Link: https://www.uscis.gov/news/premium-processing-fee-increase-effective-oct-19-2020
Pasricha & Patel
USCIS has announced that it is increasing the premium processing fee that is utilized for H-1B, and L-1, and various immigrant visa petitions (such as I-140) from $1,440.00 to $2,500.00 starting on Monday, October 19, 2020.
USCIS adds that any and all petitions that are postmarked on or after October 19, 2020, must include the new fee.
Separately, the USCIS also announced that the premium processing fee for H-2B petitions (temporary non-agricultural workers) and R-1 (religious workers) will increase from $1,440.00 to $1,500.00, also starting on Monday, October 19, 2020.
This announcement comes after the enactment of P.L. No. 116-159 on October 1, 2020 that also allows the USCIS to expand premium processing to additional forms and benefit requests. USCIS has not yet done so yet, but the USCIS does plan to expand the premium processing benefit in the future, but there is no published timetable for when these expanded premium processing when begin.
This is the first step in the authority given by the U.S. Congress to the USCIS to eventually include employment authorization applications (I-765) and also applications to change or extend status (I-539) for various nonimmigrant visa categories.
Due to the fluid nature of these immigration news and event, we do recommend readers to continue to check with our site for the latest information about various developments in immigration law and related procedures. Should you have any specific questions regarding this or any other immigration-related matters, we suggest you contact our office to schedule formal consultation.