US Visa Fee Updates for 2026: H-1B, F-1, and More
Key Insights
Premium processing fees for certain visa applications will increase starting March 1, 2026.
Affected forms include I-129 (H-1B, L-1, O-1, P visas), I-539 (student visas), and I-765 (STEM OPT).
Fee increases range roughly between $50 and $100.
The additional revenue will be used to improve the adjudication process and reduce backlogs.
DHS is launching Operation PARRIS in Minnesota to review refugee cases.
In-Depth Analysis
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is implementing fee adjustments for premium visa processing through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These changes, effective March 1, 2026, are in response to inflation between June 2023 and June 2025. Premium processing allows applicants to expedite the review of their applications by paying an additional fee.
Impact on F-1 Students:
For F-1 visa students, the key changes affect Form I-539 (Extend/change nonimmigrant status) and Form I-765 (Employment authorization, including OPT and STEM OPT).
Form I-539: The new premium fee will be $2,075 (up from $1,965).
Form I-765: The new premium fee will be $1,780 (up from $1,685).
H-2B Visas
The Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS) will make an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, on top of the congressionally mandated 66,000 H-2B visas that are available each fiscal year. The agencies said they will focus these additional H-2B visas on U.S. businesses with seasonal or temporary workforce needs in critical infrastructure sectors of the U.S. economy, such as seafood, forestry, hospitality and tourism, transportation, and manufacturing.
Visa Bonds
The Department of State (DOS) has identified nationals from a list of countries as needing visa bonds. Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for either $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview.
All visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry.
Operation PARRIS
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have launched Operation PARRIS in Minnesota, “a sweeping initiative reexamining thousands of refugee cases through new background checks and intensive verification of refugee claims.”
Why This Matters: These fee increases impact international students and businesses seeking to utilize premium processing for faster visa approvals. Students need to budget for these higher costs, while businesses relying on H-2B visas in critical sectors may find some relief with the additional visa availability.
FAQs
Q: When do the new premium processing fees go into effect?
March 1, 2026.
Q: Which visa categories are affected by the fee increase?
H-1B, L-1, O-1, P, F-1, and STEM OPT visas.
Q: Why are the fees increasing?
To adjust for inflation and improve processing times.
Q: What is Operation PARRIS?
A DHS initiative reexamining refugee cases in Minnesota.
Key Takeaways
Be aware of the increased premium processing fees starting March 1, 2026, if you plan to expedite your visa application.
Factor the higher fees into your budget if you are an international student applying for OPT or STEM OPT.
Businesses should take note of the additional H-2B visas being made available.
Visa applicants from certain countries should be prepared for potential visa bond requirements.
Discussion
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