DHS has sent a proposed regulation on premium processing timelines to the Office of Management and Budget for review — an early pre-publication step in federal rulemaking. No specific new timelines have been disclosed; the government says it "may seek to extend" existing processing periods, with details to come when the rule publishes in the Federal Register.
Current timeframes are unchanged: 15 business days for most H-1B and I-140 petitions, 30 for F-1 OPT work authorization and change of status, 45 for EB-1C and EB-2 NIW cases. Premium fees currently run $1,780 to $2,965 per petition after a March 2026 increase — and premium processing guarantees USCIS action within the window (approval, denial, request for evidence), not approval itself. Once the proposal publishes, a public comment period (typically 30–60 days) follows before any final rule — a process that could take months.
Why it matters
H-1B holders and employers routinely pay $2,000+ in premium fees to meet job-change and status deadlines — paying more while USCIS takes longer hits exactly this audience's planning and pocketbook. Watch for the Federal Register notice and comment window.
