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Upcoming USCIS Fee Increases (Including OPT)

Wednesday, January, 31st, 2024 Archived / Inactive

USCIS Announces Fee Increases

 

On January 31, 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced an upcoming fee increase for a number of their services. The higher fees will be charged for any applications submitted on or after April 1, 2024.

While a full table of the fee increases can be accessed at the USCIS link above, we wanted to highlight the changes that will directly affect our international students and Tufts departments sponsoring international employees:

 

  • F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT): The fee to file form I-765 to apply for OPT will increase from the current $410 to $470 (for online filings, or $520 for paper-based filings).
  • F-1 students applying for OPT STEM Extension: The fee to file form I-765 to apply for OPT STEM Extension will increase from the current $410 to $470 (for online filings, or $520 for paper-based filings).
  • Departments applying to sponsor an employee in O-1 or L visa status: The fee to file form I-129 to sponsor an employee will increase from the current $460 to $780.
  • Departments applying to sponsor an employee in H-1B status: The fee will remain $460. Although USCIS requested the increase from $460 to $780, the final rule determined that nonprofits (including institutions of higher education) are exempt from this increase.  Increases in other categories remain.

 

Students planning to apply for OPT in the Spring 2024 semester are encouraged to apply early to avoid paying the higher fee. Any students submitting their OPT request to USCIS on or after April 1, 2024 will be subject to the higher fee.

 

These fee changes are in addition to the previously announced USCIS final rule increasing an Inflation Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees which goes into effect on February 26, 2024. The increased premium processing fees are as follows:

  • Form I-907 Premium Processing for OPT/STEM Extension: Increasing from the current fee of $1500 to $1685.
  • Form I-907 Premium Processing for H-1B Employees: Increasing from the current fee of $2500 to $2805.

 

Please reach out to your International Center Advisor if you have any questions about the fee increases and how they may impact the timing of any upcoming requests you are planning to file.