New Premium Fee for both I-129 and I-140

[WaterLeaf 200]

Original link: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusting-premium-processing-fee

USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee

Fee Increase Consistent with the Consumer Price Index

 

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it is adjusting the premium processing fee for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers beginning on Oct. 1, 2018 to more effectively adjudicate petitions and maintain effective service to petitioners.
 

The premium processing fee will increase to $1,410, a 14.92 percent increase (after rounding) from the current fee of $1,225. This increase, which is done in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, represents the percentage change in inflation since the fee was last increased in 2010 based on the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.
 

“Because premium processing fees have not been adjusted since 2010, our ability to improve the adjudications and service processes for all petitioners has been hindered as we’ve experienced significantly higher demand for immigration benefits. Ultimately, adjusting the premium processing fee will allow us to continue making necessary investments in staff and technology to administer various immigration benefit requests more effectively and efficiently,” said Chief Financial Officer Joseph Moore. “USCIS will continue adjudicating all petitions on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards required under applicable law, policies, and regulations.”
 

Premium processing is an optional service that is currently authorized for certain petitioners filing Forms I-129 or I-140. The system allows petitioners to request 15-day processing of certain employment-based immigration benefit requests if they pay an extra fee. The premium processing fee is paid in addition to the base filing fee and any other applicable fees, which cannot be waived.

USCIS intends to hire additional staff and make investments in information technology systems with the premium funds that are generated by the fee increase. This will allow the agency to provide premium processing service with less disruption while improving adjudications and operational processes.
 

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and Facebook (/uscis).

 

Last Reviewed/Updated: 08/31/2018

 

What do you guys think about this? Would the current filers be able to jump on the ship to take advantage of the additional benefit? Would this benefit do better vs the current one we have out there now? I had not heard of the premium/extra benefit until I saw this.

[geowrian 22,337]

* Moved from K-1 P&P to Work Visas forum. NOTE: This is for the I-129 and I-140, not the I-129F (petition for a K-1 visa). *

 

Premium processing has been around for employment-based categories for ages. The fee increase, as noted in the article, is in line with inflation since the last increase in 2010.

The changes only apply to petitions filed on or after Oct. 1, 2018.

I'll just add that employer pays the I-129 petition fees.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, WaterLeaf said:

Original link: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusting-premium-processing-fee

USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee

Fee Increase Consistent with the Consumer Price Index

 

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it is adjusting the premium processing fee for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers beginning on Oct. 1, 2018 to more effectively adjudicate petitions and maintain effective service to petitioners.
 

The premium processing fee will increase to $1,410, a 14.92 percent increase (after rounding) from the current fee of $1,225. This increase, which is done in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, represents the percentage change in inflation since the fee was last increased in 2010 based on the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.
 

“Because premium processing fees have not been adjusted since 2010, our ability to improve the adjudications and service processes for all petitioners has been hindered as we’ve experienced significantly higher demand for immigration benefits. Ultimately, adjusting the premium processing fee will allow us to continue making necessary investments in staff and technology to administer various immigration benefit requests more effectively and efficiently,” said Chief Financial Officer Joseph Moore. “USCIS will continue adjudicating all petitions on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards required under applicable law, policies, and regulations.”
 

Premium processing is an optional service that is currently authorized for certain petitioners filing Forms I-129 or I-140. The system allows petitioners to request 15-day processing of certain employment-based immigration benefit requests if they pay an extra fee. The premium processing fee is paid in addition to the base filing fee and any other applicable fees, which cannot be waived.

USCIS intends to hire additional staff and make investments in information technology systems with the premium funds that are generated by the fee increase. This will allow the agency to provide premium processing service with less disruption while improving adjudications and operational processes.
 

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and Facebook (/uscis).

 

Last Reviewed/Updated: 08/31/2018

 

What do you guys think about this? Would the current filers be able to jump on the ship to take advantage of the additional benefit? Would this benefit do better vs the current one we have out there now? I had not heard of the premium/extra benefit until I saw this.

This is for work visas not marriage/fiance visas. They already can pay a premium fee.