USCIS Hikes Premium Processing Fees for H-1B, H-4, and OPT Visas; Employers Advised to Plan for 2024
These USCIS fee hikes will significantly impact the financial planning for both employers sponsoring skilled workers and individual visa applicants seeking expedited processing.
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Article Summary
USCIS has increased premium processing fees across various visa categories, including H-1B (Form I-129), H-4 and student dependents (Form I-539), and OPT (Form I-765). The I-129 premium processing fee rose by 12% to $2,805, with I-539 increasing to $1,965 and I-765 to $1,685. Employers are advised to incorporate these new fees into their 2024 immigration budget planning.
Original Article: livemint.com
[ Sentiment: negative | Tone: factual ]
This summary and analysis were generated by TheNewsPublisher's editorial AI. This content is for informational purposes only; it does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
[ Sentiment: negative | Tone: factual ]
This summary and analysis were generated by TheNewsPublisher's editorial AI. This content is for informational purposes only; it does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
TNP AI: Key Insights
For employers, these increased premium processing fees represent a higher cost of doing business, potentially affecting their ability to quickly onboard critical skilled talent. For individual applicants on H-1B, H-4, or F-1 OPT, the higher fees mean a greater financial burden for expedited processing, especially during status changes or employment authorization applications.
While USCIS periodically adjusts fees to cover operational costs, this particular increase, alongside recent broader fee rule changes, signals a trend towards higher costs for immigration services. This could prompt more employers to weigh the cost-benefit of premium processing against standard processing times, potentially leading to longer waits for some applicants, though the concurrent pilot program for domestic H-1B visa renewals offers a positive counter-development by improving convenience.
