How much does Premium Processing cost?

Premium Processing is an optional USCIS service that expedites the review of certain petitions, including those for the H-1B visa. It works as an add-on: you pay a separate, specific fee so your petition is processed within a shorter timeframe.

On the cost side, the most important point is precisely the one that tends to become outdated in answers found elsewhere: the fee amount is set by USCIS and can be adjusted over time. For that reason, citing a specific figure here would be risky. The safe approach is to check the current amount directly from the official source.

A few points can help you decide whether it is worth it:

• It is a fee charged in addition to the other regular petition fees.
• It expedites the review, but does not increase the chances of approval.
• It is optional: it is useful for those who need a decision within a shorter timeframe.

Before requesting it, confirm the current fee and applicable conditions on the USCIS website or with a specialist, since amounts and rules change periodically.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.