Posted: February 29, 2024
USCIS Announces Fee Increases and Changes in Premium Processing
On January, 31, 2024, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule that would increase certain filing fees. This will impact students applying for pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, and/or STEM OPT as well as change of status.
Highlights:
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I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (online filing):
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Previous Fee: $410
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New Fee: $470
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Increase: 15%
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I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (paper filing):
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Previous Fee: $410
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New Fee: $520
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Increase: 27%
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I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (online filing):
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Previous Fee: $370
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New Fee: $420
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Increase: 14%
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I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (paper filing):
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Previous Fee: $370
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New Fee: $470
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Increase: 27%
New fees will be effective April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period for new fees. USCIS will use the postmark date of filing to determine the correct fee rate but will use the received date for filing deadlines and for when the premium processing clock starts.
Premium Processing Fee: Effective Feb. 26, 2024, premium processing fees will increase from $1,500 to $1,685 (source). The ruling also revises the timeframe of premium processing from calendar days to business days.