Effective December 2, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will increase the Form I-907 Premium Processing fee from $1,410 to $1,440. This increase will be in effect for Form I-907 applications filed in connection with Form I-129, Petition for Non-Immigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker petitions. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2019.

Premium Processing is an optional service which allows petitioners to pay an additional fee to request expedited processing for certain employment-based applications. Under premium processing, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has fifteen (15) calendar days to adjudicate the petition. The fee for this service was last adjusted in October 2018, when it was increased from $1,225 to $1,410. According to DHS, the new premium processing fee reflects an increase in the consumer price index since the fee was initially put in place in 2010.

Immediate Impact

  • Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions postmarked on or after December 2nd that contain a request for Premium Processing must include this new fee. Clients should take this added cost into consideration when planning for upcoming visa applications.
  • Due to this fee adjustment, it is anticipated that USCIS will receive an increase in applications over the next month. As a result of this increase, there may be additional requests for evidences issued in connection with applications filed under premium processing.

Pryor Cashman will continue to monitor and update clients on the implementation of this change. Please reach out to your Pryor Cashman attorney contact should you have any additional questions.

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