USCIS sube tarifas del procesamiento premium para Green Card
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) is increasing premium processing fees for certain employment-based petitions used in the green card process.
- Premium processing is optional and guarantees expedited adjudication (typically 15, 30, or 45 days), but it does not apply to the Form I-485 green card application itself.
- The change will primarily impact employers and workers using Form I-140 (immigrant worker petitions) and certain nonimmigrant and ancillary benefit filings where premium processing is available.
- The hike follows past, inflation-based adjustments authorized by the USCIS Stabilization Act, which permits periodic increases to sustain agency operations.
- Applicants and employers should verify which forms and timelines are covered and adjust budgets and filing strategies accordingly.
What changed
It has been reported that USCIS is raising the fee for premium processing, the agency’s optional expedited service that provides guaranteed adjudication within set timelines in exchange for an additional fee. While often linked to “green card” pathways, premium processing does not speed up the availability of immigrant visa numbers or the adjudication of Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status). Instead, it chiefly applies to underlying petitions—most notably Form I-140 for employment-based immigrant categories—and, in some cases, to related nonimmigrant or ancillary applications where the service is offered.
Who is affected—and who is not
The reported increase will affect employers and skilled workers who rely on faster decisions for employment-based petitions, including EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories filed on Form I-140. Premium processing also exists for certain Form I-129 (work visa) filings and select Form I-539/Form I-765 categories, where USCIS has established 15-, 30-, or 45-day clocks depending on the form and classification. Family-based applicants should note there is no premium processing for Form I-130 (family petition) or Form I-485, so this change does not offer a shortcut to permanent residence in those cases.
Why this matters now
Fee increases add immediate cost pressure for employers and applicants deciding whether expedited adjudication is worth the premium. For some, especially where job start dates, portability, or dependent benefits are time-sensitive, paying for faster decisions can still be strategic. The adjustment aligns with USCIS’s prior, inflation-based premium processing hikes—most recently in 2024—under the USCIS Stabilization Act, which allows the agency to revise these fees periodically to maintain service levels. Those currently preparing filings should confirm the new rates and effective date on USCIS’s website or the Federal Register and consider timing submissions accordingly to avoid unexpected fee rejections.
Source: Original Article