The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has declared a final rule, indicating an increase in premium processing fees for certain visa categories, including H-1B applications.
Immigration attorneys suggest that sponsoring employers should factor the new premium processing fees into their immigration budget planning for the coming year. The usual process involves E-registrations for H-1B applications starting in March, followed by the lottery, and then the final visa application for the selected beneficiaries.
“DHS will use the revenue generated by the premium processing fee increase to provide premium processing services; make improvements to adjudications processes; respond to adjudication demands, including reducing benefit request processing backlogs; and otherwise fund USCIS adjudication and naturalization services,” the USCIS said in a statement.
What is the new fee and when will it come into effect?
The premium processing fees for Form I-129, used for non-immigrant worker applications like H-1B or L1 visas, will be hiked by 12 per cent to USD 2,805. This fee adjustment will be implemented from February 26, 2024.
The fees for premium processing of Form I-539, used by international students, as well as spouses and dependents of H-1B visa holders seeking to extend or change their non-immigrant status, have been raised to USD 1,965 from the previous USD 1,750. Additionally, the fee for Form I-765, used to apply for employment authorization, including F-1 students applying for optional practical training (OPT), has increased to USD 1,685 from USD 1,500.
The full table of adjusted fees is:
| Form | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | USD 1,500 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status)
USD 2,500 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2)) |
USD 1,685 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status)
USD 2,805 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2)) |
| Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | USD 2,500 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13 and E21 (NIW)) | USD 2,805 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13 and E21 (NIW)) |
| Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | USD 1,750 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and R-2) | USD 1,965 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and R-2) |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization | USD 1,500 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C) | USD 1,685 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C) |
What is premium processing?
If a visa application is applied for via premium processing, the case is adjudicated within the shorter timeline as prescribed. For instance, for Form I-539 and Form I-765 it is 30 calendar days. H-1B premium processing is undertaken in 15 calendar days.
The premium processing fees stand increased to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2021 through June 2023. USCIS says that it plans to increase premium processing fees biennially in the future. It is not currently planning to change the timeframes for cases requesting premium service.
American Airlines is increasing bag fees and encouraging customers to buy tickets directly to earn frequent-flyer points. The airline said on Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from USD 30 now to USD 35 online and USD 40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from USD 40 to USD 45 both online and at the airport. American last raised bag fees in 2018.
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American Airlines is raising the cost of checking bags and it is making other changes to push customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points.
The airline said on Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from USD 30 now to USD 35 online and USD 40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from USD 40 to USD 45 both online and at the airport. American last raised bag fees in 2018.
American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, introduced bag fees in 2008 — USD 15 back then — to cope with the rising cost of jet fuel. Since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major U.S. carriers. American easily led the industry by raising USD 1.4 billion in bag fees in 2022, the last year for which U.S. Transportation Department figures are available.
The airline is also raising bag fees by USD 5 for short international flights including those to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean — now USD 35 for the first bag and USD 45 for the second.
The airline will generally allow customers to check at least one bag free if they hold elite status in American’s loyalty program, buy a premium-class ticket or use an American-branded credit card.
In January, Alaska Airlines raised its checked-bag fees for most economy passengers from USD 30 to USD 35 for a first bag and from USD 40 to USD 45 for a second. JetBlue followed this month, raising its fees to USD 35 and USD 50.
“Airlines tend to move in herds, so when Alaska recently announced they would be upping their bag fee to USD 35, there was little doubt other airlines would soon follow,” said Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going. “It’s unlikely American will be the last.”
Keyes noted that American’s decision to charge customers more if they pay bag fees at the airport instead of when they buy their ticket mimics a tactic used by budget airlines such as Spirit and Frontier.
American will give a break to customers whose bags are slightly overweight or oversized. Instead of being hit with the full extra fee — ranging from USD 100 to USD 650 — graduated fees will start at USD 30 for bags that are no more than 3 pounds (1.36 kg) or three linear inches over the limits.
SIA Group achieved a record quarterly revenue of USD 5,082 million, driven by robust passenger demand. Passenger-flown revenue surged by 10.6 per cent to USD 4,165 million, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s history. Despite challenges, the Group recorded a net profit of USD 659 million, reflecting a 4.9 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
And it is cutting the cost of transferring points between frequent-flyer accounts.
At the same time, American announced that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers or from preferred online travel agencies if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline said it will list the preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travelers won’t be affected.
About 60 per cent of American’s ticket sales are already made directly through the airline, said Scott Chandler, vice president of revenue management.
The changes are part of a long shift by airlines away from using travel agents — and paying them commissions — and bringing ticket sales in-house.
“The old way of booking a ticket relied on agents having a ton of experience and understanding product attributes,” Chandler said in an interview. “The old technology doesn’t let us explain things very well, and it is a little more confusing for customers when we introduce new products.”
Chandler likened it to the way that Amazon.com explains features that it sells on the site.
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Wise, a leading global technology company specialising in international money transfers, has unveiled crucial insights into ATM withdrawal fees for Indian travellers visiting popular destinations across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
As travellers gear up for international trips in 2024, Wise’s latest research provides guidance on managing finances abroad, particularly focusing on ATM withdrawal fees. By analysing data from its extensive database, Wise sheds light on the potential costs associated with cash withdrawals in various APAC destinations, helping travellers optimize their vacation budgets effectively.
According to the research, Turkey emerges as the costliest destination in the region for ATM withdrawals, with travellers facing an average fee of 4.44 per cent per transaction. This is followed by Bhutan (3.16 per cent) and Nepal (2.79 per cent). On the flip side, destinations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong offer friendlier ATM fees, with fees under 1 per cent.
Among popular travel spots for Indian tourists, Thailand ranks fifth with an average ATM withdrawal fee of 2.62 per cent, followed by South Korea (2.55 per cent) and Vietnam (1.85 per cent). In contrast, mainland China and Malaysia boast some of the lowest ATM fees at 0.01 per cent and 0.03 per cent, respectively.
2022 brought a resurgence in foreign tourist footfall, with FTVs surging to 1.75 lakh, showcasing growth of 695.45 per cent. However, the numbers still were below the pre pandemic levels. Going forward, Goa Tourism plans to intensify its promotion efforts in international markets by participating in prominent travel marts and exhibitions and organising international roadshows to attract more foreign tourists to the state.
To put the impact of these fees into perspective, withdrawing ₹10,000 per day for a week in Turkey would result in approximately INR 3,108 in fees. In comparison, the same withdrawal in Malaysia would incur only INR 21 in transaction fees.Surendra Chaplot, Head of Global Product, Wise, emphasised the importance of being aware of hidden expenses when conducting international transactions, including foreign transaction fees and undisclosed exchange rate markups. Chaplot highlighted Wise’s commitment to raising consumer awareness about such fees to empower travellers to make informed financial decisions.
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