[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 89539-89550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28529]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

8 CFR Part 106

[CIS No. 2757-23; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2018-0003]
RIN 1615-ZC05


Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing 
premium processing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS) to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2021 
through June 2023 according to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
Consumers. The adjustment increases premium processing fees from $1,500 
to $1,685, $1,750 to $1,965, and $2,500 to $2,805.

DATES: 
    Effective date: This rule is effective on February 26, 2024.
    Compliance date: Requests for premium processing postmarked on or 
after February 26, 2024 must include the new fee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Cribbs, Deputy Chief Financial 
Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746; 
telephone 240-721-3000 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR--Code of Federal Regulations
CPI--Consumer Price Index

[[Page 89540]]

CPI-U--Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers DHS--Department 
of Homeland Security
E.O.--Executive Order
Form I-129--Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Form I-140--Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
Form I-539--Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
Form I-765--Application for Employment Authorization
FY--Fiscal Year
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
NEPA--National Environmental Protection Act
NIW--National Interest Waiver
SBREFA--Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
USCIS--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
USCIS Stabilization Act--Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act
USCIS Stabilization Rule--Implementation of the Emergency Stopgap 
USCIS Stabilization Act Final Rule, published March 30, 2022

I. Background and Authority

    Section 286(u) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1356(u), provides the Secretary 
with authority to establish and collect a premium fee for the premium 
processing of certain immigration benefit types.\1\ Premium processing 
means that DHS collects a fee in addition to the regular filing fee 
from persons seeking expedited processing of eligible immigration 
benefit requests.\2\
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    \1\ ``Premium fees'' and ``premium processing fees'' are used 
interchangeably throughout this rule.
    \2\ See 8 CFR 1.2 for the definition of ``Benefit request''; See 
8 CFR 106.4 for those immigration benefit requests currently 
eligible for premium processing.
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    On October 1, 2020, the Continuing Appropriations Act, which 
included the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act (USCIS 
Stabilization Act), set new fees for premium processing of immigration 
benefit requests that had been designated for premium processing as of 
August 1, 2020, and expanded DHS authority to establish and collect new 
premium processing fees, and to use those additional funds for expanded 
purposes. See Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, Public Law 
116-159, sec. 4102 (Oct. 1, 2020); INA sec. 286(u), 8 U.S.C. 1356(u).
    On October 16, 2020, USCIS announced it would increase the fees for 
premium processing, as required by the USCIS Stabilization Act, 
effective October 19, 2020.\3\ As of that date, the fee for Form I-907, 
Request for Premium Processing Service, increased from $1,440 to $2,500 
for all immigration benefit requests that were designated for premium 
processing as of August 1, 2020, with the exception that the premium 
processing fee for petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for a 
Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status 
increased from $1,440 to $1,500. USCIS further announced that, while 
the USCIS Stabilization Act gave USCIS the ability to expand premium 
processing to additional forms and immigration benefit requests, USCIS 
was not yet taking such action and that any expansion of premium 
processing to other forms would be implemented as provided in the 
legislation.\4\
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    \3\ See USCIS, Premium Processing Fee Increase Effective Oct. 
19, 2020, https://www.uscis.gov/news/premium-processing-fee-increase-effective-oct-19-2020 (last visited July 19, 2023).
    \4\ Id.
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    Effective May 31, 2022, DHS amended its premium processing 
regulations to codify the fees set by the USCIS Stabilization Act and 
establish new fees and processing timeframes consistent with the 
conditions and eligibility requirements set forth by section 4102(b)(1) 
of the USCIS Stabilization Act. See Final rule, Implementation of the 
Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act (USCIS Stabilization Rule), 
87 FR 18227 (Mar. 30, 2022); see also 8 CFR 106.4. The fees established 
by the USCIS Stabilization Act and codified by the USCIS Stabilization 
Rule were as follows:
    [cir] For all immigration benefit requests that were designated for 
premium processing as of August 1, 2020, increased from $1,440 to 
$2,500, with the exception that the premium processing fee for 
petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, 
requesting H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status increased from $1,440 to 
$1,500.\5\
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    \5\ See USCIS Stabilization Act, Public Law 116-159 at sec. 
4102(a) (codified as amended at 8 U.S.C. 1356(u)(3)(A) (Oct. 1, 
2020); USCIS Stabilization Rule, 87 FR 18227,18231 (Mar. 30, 2022). 
See also 8 CFR 106.4(c).
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    [cir] For those requesting premium processing for EB-1 immigrant 
classification as a multinational executive or manager or EB-2 
immigrant classification as a member of professions with advanced 
degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver (NIW) 
on Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Working, the fee was 
established as $2,500.\6\
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    \6\ See id. at sec. 4102(b)(1)(A) (Oct. 1, 2020); USCIS 
Stabilization Rule, 87 FR 18227,18231 (Mar. 30, 2022). See also 8 
CFR 106.4(c).
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    [cir] For those requesting premium processing of a change of status 
to F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, or M-2 nonimmigrant status or a change of 
status to or extension of stay in E-1, E-2, E-3, H-4, L-2, O-3, P-4, or 
R-2 nonimmigrant status on Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change 
Nonimmigrant Status, the fee was established as $1,750; \7\ and
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    \7\ See id. at sec. 4102(b)(1)(B)&(C) (Oct. 1, 2020); USCIS 
Stabilization Rule, 87 FR 18227,18231 (Mar. 30, 2022). See also 8 
CFR 106.4(c).
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    [cir] For those requesting premium processing for employment 
authorization on Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, 
the fee was established as $1,500.\8\
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    \8\ See id. at sec. 4102(b)(1)(D) (Oct. 1, 2020); USCIS 
Stabilization Rule, 87 FR 18227,18231 (Mar. 30, 2022). See also 8 
CFR 106.4(c).
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    USCIS is now increasing those premium processing fees provided by 
Congress in the USCIS Stabilization Act and codified through the USCIS 
Stabilization Rule by the inflationary adjustment calculation provided 
by INA 286(u)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1356(u)(3)(C). See USCIS Stabilization 
Act, Public Law 116-159 (Oct. 1, 2020).

II. Basis for Adjustment

    Section 286(u)(3)(C) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1356(u)(3)(C), provides 
that DHS may adjust the premium fees on a biennial basis by the 
percentage by which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban 
Consumers for the month of June preceding the date on which such 
adjustment takes effect exceeds the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 
for the same month of the second preceding calendar year. See also 8 
CFR 106.4(d) (codifying section 286(u)(3)(C) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 
1356(u)(3)(C) in 8 CFR part 106, USCIS Fee Schedule).
    The USCIS Stabilization Act established the current premium 
processing fees and the authority for DHS to adjust the premium fees on 
a biennial basis on October 1, 2020. DHS has not adjusted the statutory 
premium fees since October 1, 2020. As authorized by the USCIS 
Stabilization Act, DHS is now increasing the statutory premium fees as 
provided for by the USCIS Stabilization Act by the percentage by which 
the CPI-U for the month of June preceding the date on which such 
adjustment takes effect exceeds the CPI-U for the same month of the 
second preceding calendar year. This rule is effective on February 26, 
2024, therefore ``the month of June preceding the date on which such 
adjustment takes effect'' is June 2023. As such, June 2021 is ``the 
same month of the second preceding calendar year,'' because it is two 
years before the June ``on which such adjustment takes effect.'' 
Therefore, DHS is using the CPI-U as of June 2023 as the end point and 
June 2021 as the starting point for the period of inflation to 
establish the new premium processing fees. In June

[[Page 89541]]

2021 the CPI-U was 271.696, and in June 2023 it was 305.109.\9\ 
Therefore, between June 2021 and June 2023, the CPI-U increased by 
12.30 percent.\10\ When this percentage increase is applied to the 
current premium processing fees, the premium processing fees that were 
$1,500, increase to $1,685; the premium processing fees that were 
$1,750, increase to $1,965; and the premium processing fees that were 
$2,500, increase to $2,805.\11\ See new 8 CFR 106.4(c).
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    \9\ The latest CPI-U data is available at http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?bls (last visited 07/27/2023). Select CPI-U 1982-
84 = 100 (Unadjusted)--CUUR0000SA0 and click the Retrieve data 
button.
    \10\ DHS calculated this by subtracting the June 2021 CPI-U 
(271.696) from the June 2023 CPI-U (305.109), then dividing the 
result (33.413) by the June 2021 CPI-U (271.696). Calculation: 
(305.109-271.696)/271.696 = .1230 x 100 = 12.30 percent.
    \11\ DHS generally rounds USCIS fees that it establishes by 
rulemaking to the nearest $5 increment. See e.g., 81 FR 73292, 73303 
(Oct. 24, 2016).
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    A request for premium processing postmarked on or after February 
26, 2024 must include the new fee. A premium processing request must be 
submitted on USCIS Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, and in 
the manner prescribed by USCIS in the form instructions. If the request 
for premium processing is submitted together with the underlying 
immigration benefit request, all required fees in the correct amount 
must be paid. The fee to request premium processing service may not be 
waived and must be paid in addition to, and in a separate remittance 
from, other filing fees. See 8 CFR 106.4(b).
    USCIS is adjusting current premium processing fees to ensure that 
the premium processing fees keep pace with inflation as contemplated by 
Congress in the USCIS Stabilization Act. It is USCIS' intention that 
premium processing fees will be adjusted biennially to consistently 
protect the real dollar value of the premium processing service that 
USCIS provides. When making an inflationary adjustment to the premium 
processing fees provided by INA 286(u)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1356(u)(3)(C), 
the adjustment is limited to the percentage by which the CPI-U for the 
month of June preceding the date on which such adjustment takes effect 
exceeds the CPI-U for the same month of the second preceding calendar 
year. By consistently adjusting premium processing fees biennially 
USCIS will fully capture any increase in inflation that could be missed 
by increasing premium processing fees over periods of time greater than 
two years.
    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.
    On January 4, 2023, DHS proposed new fees to replace its current 
fee schedule in its entirety. See, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit 
Request Requirements, 88 FR 402 (Jan. 4, 2023) (2023 Proposed Fee 
Rule).\12\ The 2023 Proposed Fee Rule proposed to republish 8 CFR 
106.4(c) Designated benefit requests and fee amounts as it was codified 
in the final rule entitled, ``Implementation of the Emergency Stopgap 
USCIS Stabilization Act,'' on March 30, 2022 without adjusting any of 
the fees for premium processing. Id. at 595. As the 2023 Proposed Fee 
Rule has not yet been finalized, this rule would replace the premium 
processing fees at 8 CFR 106.4(c) that were set by the USCIS 
Stabilization Act and codified in the USCIS Stabilization Rule. See new 
8 CFR 106.4(c).
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    \12\ On January 9, 2023, USCIS published a correction to the 
2023 Proposed Fee Rule to correct two fees that were erroneous as 
the result of typographical errors. See U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other 
Immigration Benefit Request Requirements; Correction, 88 FR 1172 
(Jan. 9, 2023).
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III. Regulatory Requirements

A. Administrative Procedure Act

    The Administrative Procedure Act generally requires agencies to 
issue a proposed rule before issuing a final rule, subject to certain 
exceptions. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Section 286(u)(3)(C) of the INA, 8 
U.S.C. 1356 (u)(3)(C), exempts DHS from the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 
553. Section 286(u)(3)(C) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1356(u)(3)(C), 
specifically provides that ``the provisions of section 553 of Title 5 
shall not apply to an adjustment authorized under [section 286(u)(3)(C) 
of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1356(u)(3)(C)].'' Therefore, DHS is not required 
to issue a proposed rule when adjusting premium fees under section 
286(u)(3)(C) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1356 (u)(3)(C).
    The regulations at 8 CFR 106.4(d) provide that fees to request 
premium processing service may be adjusted by notice in the Federal 
Register. However, the Federal Register Act (44 U.S.C. 1510) and its 
implementing regulations (1 CFR part 21) provide that publishing a 
Notice document in the Federal Register announcing a new fee amount, 
without amending the regulations, does not effectuate a change of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Because current premium processing 
fees are codified in the CFR, it is necessary for DHS to publish this 
rule to amend the regulatory text.

B. Other Regulatory Requirements

    Because this action is not subject to the notice-and-comment 
requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act, a final regulatory 
flexibility analysis is not required. See 5 U.S.C. 604(a). This action 
is not subject to the written statement requirements of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4). Nor does it require prior 
consultation with State, local, and tribal government officials as 
specified by Executive Orders 13132 or 13175.
Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)
    This rule was drafted and reviewed in accordance with Executive 
Order (E.O.) 12988, Civil Justice Reform. DHS has determined that this 
final rule meets the applicable standards provided in section 3 of E.O. 
12988.
National Environmental Policy Act
    The Department is not aware of any significant impact on the 
environment, or any change in environment that would result from the 
changes in fees. The Department finds that promulgation of this rule 
clearly fits within categorical exclusion A3, as established in DHS's 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures set 
forth in DHS's Directive 023-01, Revision 01, and Instruction Manual 
023-01-001-01, Revision 01 (``Instruction Manual'') Appendix A, Table 
1.
    This rule is a standalone rule and is not part of any larger 
action. This rule would not result in any major Federal action that 
would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. 
Furthermore, the Departments have determined that no extraordinary 
circumstances exist that would create the potential for significant 
environmental effects. Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded 
from further NEPA review.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 
(Congressional Review Act)
    The Congressional Review Act (CRA) was included as part of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) by 
section 804 of SBREFA, Public Law

[[Page 89542]]

104-121, 110 Stat. 847, 868, et seq. The Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs has determined that this rule is a major rule as 
defined by the CRA. DHS has complied with the CRA's reporting 
requirements and has sent this final rule to Congress and to the 
Comptroller General as required by 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1).
Executive Order 12866
    Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), as amended 
by Executive Order 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review), and 13563 
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) direct agencies to assess 
the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not 
designated this rule a ``significant regulatory action'' as defined 
under section 3(f) of E.O. 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094. 
Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed this rule.
    DHS estimates an additional annual transfer of $184,715,135 in 
revenue to be collected from fee-paying applicants and petitioners 
(public) to DHS, due to the increase in premium processing fees subject 
to an adjustment for inflation (Table 1).\13\
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    \13\ Additional revenue collected calculation: $96,609,550 + 
$38,490,695 + $17,695,360 + $31,919,530 = $184,715,135 for forms I-
129, I-140, I-539 and I-765, respectively.

                          Table 1--Summary of Provisions and Impacts of the Final Rule
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                                      Description of changes   Estimated annual form  Estimated annual change in
          Rule provisions                 to provisions              receipts                  transfers
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1. Form I-129, Petition for a        This rule increased the  Form I-129 H-2B and R-  This will result in an
 Nonimmigrant Worker.                 premium processing       1 Classifications:      increase in transfer
                                      fees for Form I-129.     10,892.                 payments from the Form I-
                                      The premium processing  All other Form I-129     129 fee-paying population
                                      fee for H-2B and R-1     Classifications:        to DHS of $96,609,550.
                                      nonimmigrant status      310,146.
                                      will increase from      Total Form I-129
                                      $1,500 to $1,685.        receipts: 321,038.
                                     The premium processing
                                      fee for 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) will
                                      increase from $2,500
                                      to $2,805.
2. Form I-140, Immigrant Petition    This rule increased the  Form I-140 E11, E12,    This will result in an
 for Alien Workers.                   premium processing       E21 (non-NIW), E31,     increase in transfer
                                      fees for Form I-140.     E32, EW3                payments from the Form I-
                                      The premium processing   Classifications:        140 fee-paying population
                                      fee for employment-      85,399.                 to DHS of $38,490,695.
                                      based (EB)              Form I-140 E13 and E21
                                      classifications E11,     (NIW)
                                      E12, E21 (non-NIW),      Classifications:
                                      E31, E32, EW3, as well   40,800.
                                      as recently available   Total Form I-140
                                      E13 and E21 (NIW),       receipts: 126,199.
                                      will increase from
                                      $2,500 to $2,805.
3. Form I-539, Application to        This rule increased the  Form I-539 F-1, F-2, M- This will result in an
 Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.   premium processing       1, M-2, J-1, J-2        increase in transfer
                                      fees for Form I-539      Classifications:        payments from the Form I-
                                      classifications F-1, F-  11,144.                 539 fee-paying population
                                      2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2,  Form I-539 E-2, E-3, L-  to DHS of $17,695,360.
                                      E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-   2, H-4, O-3, P-4, and
                                      4, O-3, P-4, and R-2.    R-2 Classifications:
                                      The premium processing   71,160.
                                      fee for this            Total Form I-539
                                      population will          receipts: 82,304.
                                      increase from $1,750
                                      to $1,965.
4. Form I-765, Application for       This rule increased the  Form I-765 OPT and OPT- This will result in an
 Employment Authorization.            premium processing       STEM Classifications    increase in transfer
                                      fees for Form I-765.     Currently Eligible:     payments from the Form I-
                                      The premium processing   114,116.                765 fee-paying population
                                      fee for certain F-1     Form I-765               to DHS of $31,919,530.
                                      students will increase   Classifications
                                      from $1,500 to $1,685.   Likely Eligible in
                                                               the Future: 58,422.
                                                              Total Form I-765
                                                               receipts: 172,538.
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[[Page 89543]]

    In addition to the impacts summarized above, the table below 
presents the prepared accounting statement showing the costs and 
benefits to each individual affected by this final rule.\14\
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    \14\ White House, OMB, Circular A-4 (April 6, 2023), available 
at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DraftCircularA-4.pdf (last viewed Aug 3, 2023).

                                          OMB A-4 Accounting Statement
                           [$ Millions, FY 2022; Time period: FY 2024 through FY 2025]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Category               Primary estimate     Minimum estimate     Maximum estimate    Source citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    BENEFITS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monetized Benefits............                               N/A                               Regulatory Impact
                                                                                                Analysis
                                                                                                (``RIA'') See
                                                                                                E.O. 12866.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized quantified, but                     N/A                  N/A                  N/A   E.O. 12866.
 unmonetized, benefits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unquantified Benefits.........                               N/A                               E.O. 12866.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      COSTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized monetized costs                     N/A                  N/A                  N/A   E.O. 12866.
 (7%).
Annualized monetized costs                     N/A                  N/A                  N/A
 (3%).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized quantified, but                                   N/A
 unmonetized, costs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qualitative (unquantified)                                   N/A                               E.O 12866.
 costs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    TRANSFERS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized monetized transfers              $184.7                  N/A                  N/A   E.O. 12866.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From whom to whom?............  From the fee-paying applicants and petitioners of Form I-129,
                                I-140, I-539, and I-765 to DHS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qualitative (unquantified)                                   None                              None.
 transfers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miscellaneous Analyses/                                    Effects                             Source Citation.
 Category.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects on State, local, or                                  None                              None.
 tribal governments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects on small businesses...                               None                              None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects on wages..............                               None                              None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects on growth.............                               None                              None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 2 shows the estimated total receipts received and refunds 
issued by USCIS for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, 
from fiscal year (FY) 2018 through FY 2022. Based on a 5-year annual 
average, DHS estimates the annual receipts for Form I-907 to be 406,437 
for the biennial period after this rule takes effect. In addition, 
based on the 5-year average, the annual number of refunds issued for 
Form I-907 is estimated to be 297.\15\
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    \15\ USCIS presents data on refunds issued by USCIS because 8 
CFR 106 guarantees processing for premium processing requests within 
15, 30 or 45 days. The required period generally begins when USCIS 
properly receives the correct version of Form I-907, Request for 
Premium Processing Service, with fee, at the correct filing address 
or the date that all prerequisites for adjudication, the form 
prescribed by USCIS, and fee(s) are received by USCIS. Within the 
required period, USCIS will issue either an approval notice, denial 
notice, notice of intent to deny, or request for evidence, or open 
an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation.

  Table 2--Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Receipts and Refunds Issued, FY 2018 Through FY
                                                      2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Form I-907 receipts                      Form I-907 refunds *
              FY              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Form I-129    Form I-140       Total      Form I-129    Form I-140      Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018.........................       292,297        78,232      370,529            123           101          224
2019.........................       333,175        79,752      412,927            259            48          307
2020.........................       276,107        64,529      340,636            500            51          551
2021.........................       309,596       107,908      417,504             89           126          215
2022.........................       394,015        96,573      490,588            167            22          189
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................     1,605,190       426,994    2,032,184          1,138           348        1,486
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual Average       321,038        85,399      406,437            228            70          297
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division, CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18,
  2023.
* Note: For refunds, the report reflects the most up-to-date data available at the time the system was queried.
  Any duplicate case information has been removed.


[[Page 89544]]

    Table 3 shows the percentage of the eligible Form I-129, Petition 
for Non-Immigrant Worker, petitioners who opted to submit a premium 
processing request along with their Form I-129 from FY 2018 through FY 
2022. The 5-year annual average percentage of eligible Form I-129 
petitioners who choose to submit a premium processing request was 57 
percent.

 Table 3--Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Filed With Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant
                                         Worker, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
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                                                                        Total Form I-129    Percentage of Form I-
                      FY                          Total Form I-129     petitions submitted    907 receipts that
                                                      receipts           with Form I-907    come with Form I-129
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018..........................................               548,910               292,297                    53
2019..........................................               551,789               333,175                    60
2020..........................................               555,058               276,107                    50
2021..........................................               531,851               309,596                    58
2022..........................................               629,424               394,015                    63
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................             2,817,032             1,605,190  ....................
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual Average.................               563,406               321,038                    57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division, CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18,
  2023.

    Table 4 shows the percentage of the eligible Form I-140, Immigrant 
Petition for Alien Workers, petitioners who chose to submit a premium 
processing request from FY 2018 through FY 2022. Through FY 2022, not 
all Form I-140 petitioners are eligible for premium processing; 
therefore, DHS only discusses the percentage of those who are eligible 
for premium processing during these fiscal years compared to the total 
number of premium processing requests submitted.\16\ The 5-year annual 
average percentage of eligible Form I-140 petitioners who chose to 
submit a premium processing request was 53 percent.
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    \16\ For more information on eligibility, please see ``How Do I 
Request Premium Processing?'' https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/how-do-i-request-premium-processing (last visited Aug 3, 2023).

              Table 4--Form I-140 Receipts Eligible for Premium Processing, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Total Form I-140
                                                 petitions eligible     Total Form I-140    Percentage of Form I-
                      FY                             for premium       petitions submitted      907 receipts
                                                     processing          with Form I-907
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018..........................................                62,262                35,889                    58
2019..........................................                70,215                34,958                    50
2020..........................................                65,029                29,060                    45
2021..........................................               112,521                65,685                    58
2022..........................................                91,605                48,616                    53
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................               401,632               214,208  ....................
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual Average.................                80,326                42,842                    53
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division, CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18,
  2023.
Note: Form I-140 eligible petitioners include the following classifications are currently designated for premium
  processing: EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability (E11), EB-1 Outstanding professors and researchers (E12), EB-
  2 Members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver
  (E21), EB-3 Skilled workers (E31), EB-3 Professionals (E32), and EB-3 Workers other than skilled workers and
  professionals (EW3).

    To estimate the probability that an eligible petitioner may choose 
to request premium processing, DHS computes a ratio of the 5-year 
annual average number of requests to the 5-year annual average number 
of eligible petitioners. Table 5 shows that of those currently eligible 
for premium processing, 57 percent chose to submit a premium processing 
request. Based on prior agency experience,\17\ DHS assumes that the 
demand rate will carry forward and will use this percentage to estimate 
the possible adoption volumes of Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for 
Alien Workers, Multinational Executives and Managers (E-13) and Members 
of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a 
national interest waiver (E-21); \18\ Form I-539, Application to 
Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status; and I-765, Application for 
Employment Authorization, applicants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Table 7 in the ``Implementation of the Emergency Stopgap 
USCIS Stabilization Act'' rule at 87 FR 18241 shows that in FY 2021, 
when the fee was increased, Form I-129 petitioners were still 
willing to pay for premium processing. ``This provides suggestive 
evidence that petitioners' demand for premium processing is 
insensitive to the price increases effected by [the USCIS 
Stabilization] rule.''
    \18\ The USCIS Stabilization Act, codified by the USCIS 
Stabilization rule, established E-13 multinational executive and 
manager petitioner and E-21 national interest waiver petitioners 
eligible for premium processing. USCIS began accepting Form I-907 
applications for these petitioners beginning January 30, 2023. See 
https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-announces-final-phase-of-premium-processing-expansion-for-eb-1-and-eb-2-form-i-140-petitions. Because of the short time period USCIS has been accepting 
Form I-907 applications for these petitioners, USCIS uses the 
historical 5-year average of 57 percent submission rate to estimate 
their possible premium processing request adoption volumes.

[[Page 89545]]



                   Table 5--Percentage of Premium Processing Requests, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    5-year annual
                                                  average of Forms        5-year annual     Percentage of Form I-
                                                 submitted with Form    average of total        907 receipts
                                                        I-907           receipts by Form
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form I-129....................................               321,038               563,406                    57
Form I-140....................................                42,842                80,326                    53
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................               363,880               643,732                    57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS Analysis.

(a) Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Transfer Payments
    Currently, petitioners requesting certain benefits on Form I-129, 
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, are eligible to also submit a 
request for premium processing with their immigration benefit request. 
Table 6 shows the population of petitioners who submitted Form I-907 
with Form I-129 based on the corresponding nonimmigrant classifications 
from FY 2018 through FY 2022.
    Based on a 5-year annual average, DHS estimates the annual receipts 
from Form I-907 filed with Form I-129 H-2B or R-1 classifications to be 
10,892. Based on a 5-year annual average, DHS estimates the annual 
receipts for Form I-907 associated with all other Forms I-129 to be 
310,146.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ DHS calculated this by subtracting the June 2021 CPI-U 
(271.696) from the June 2023 CPI-U (305.109), then dividing the 
result (33.413) by the June 2021 CPI-U (271.696). Calculation: 
(305.109-271.696)/271.696 = .1230 x 100 = 12.3 percent.

 Table 6--Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Filed With Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant
                                         Worker, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Form I-129 all other
                      FY                        Form I-129 H-2B or R-     visa request        Total Form I-907
                                                 1 request receipts        receipts *             receipts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018..........................................                 9,127               283,170               292,297
2019..........................................                10,505               322,670               333,175
2020..........................................                 7,125               268,982               276,107
2021..........................................                11,866               297,730               309,596
2022..........................................                15,838               378,177               394,015
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................                54,461             1,550,729             1,605,190
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual Average.................                10,892               310,146               321,038
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division, CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18,
  2023.
* Note: All other includes the following classifications: E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-2A, 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. H-2B or R-1 equals 3.4% and All other I-129 equals
  96.6%. of Total Form I-907 Receipts filed with a Form I-129 petition.

    This rule increases the premium processing fees for Form I-129. The 
premium processing fee for H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status will 
increase from $1,500 to $1,685, an increase of $185, which is the 
result of a 12.3 percent increase in the CPI-U from June 2021 to June 
2023.\19\ The premium fee for 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) will increase from 
$2,500 to $2,805, an increase of $305. Because the fee for premium 
processing for the Form I-129 H-2B and R-1 classifications will 
increase by a different amount than for all other Form I-129 
classifications, the data for the Form I-129 H-2B and R-1 
classifications data was separated from the data for all other 
classifications.
    Based on a 5-year annual average, DHS estimates an additional 
$2,015,020 annually in transfer payments will be collected from these 
new, higher premium processing fees for Forms H-2B and R-1.\20\ DHS 
will collect an additional $94,594,530 annually in transfer payments 
from premium processing requestors filing Form I-129 for all other visa 
classifications to DHS, based on a 5-year annual average.\21\ 
Accordingly, DHS estimates the total increase in transfer payments from 
the Form I-129 fee-paying population to DHS will be $96,609,550 (Table 
7) annually, for the biennial period after this rule takes effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Calculation: 10,892 annual Form I-129 H-2B or R-1 petitions 
* $185 ($1,685 fee-$1,500 fee) = $2,015,020.
    \21\ Calculation: 310,146 annual Form I-129 petitions for other 
than H-2B and R-1 classifications * 305 ($2,805 fee-$2,500 fee) = 
$94,594,530.

[[Page 89546]]



   Table 7--Fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Filed With Form I-129, Petition for a
                                               Nonimmigrant Worker
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    5-Year annual
                                                                average receipts (FY               Total annual
                      Period of analysis                           2018 through FY        Fee       fee revenue
                                                                        2022)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs).................                10,892      $1,500     $16,338,000
2023 CPI-U Adjustment.........................................                10,892       1,685      18,353,020
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
    Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-129 H-2B and R-1...  ....................  ..........       2,015,020
Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs).................               310,146       2,500     775,365,000
2023 CPI-U Adjustment.........................................               310,146       2,805     869,959,530
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
    Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-129 All Other *....  ....................  ..........      94,594,530
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
        Total Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-129......  ....................  ..........      96,609,550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS Analysis.
* Note: All other includes the following classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-2A, 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).

(b) Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Transfer Payments
    The estimated population of petitioners who submitted Form I-907, 
Request for Premium Processing Service, with Form I-140, Immigrant 
Petition for Alien Workers, based on the corresponding employment-based 
(EB) classifications that are currently designated for premium 
processing is 85,399 (Table 2) per year.\22\ The fee for all Form I-140 
petitioners requesting premium processing will increase from $2,500 to 
$2,805, based off the 12.3 percent increase in the CPI-U from June 2021 
to June 2023.\23\ Using the historical 5-year annual average from FY 
2018 through FY 2022, DHS estimates that as a result of the increase in 
filing fees for premium processing the additional annual transfer 
payments from the Form I-140 fee-paying population to DHS will be 
$26,046,695 (Table 8) for the biennial period after this rule takes 
effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See supra FN 16.
    \23\ See supra FN 19.

Table 8--Fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Currently Filed With Form I-140, Immigrant
                                          Petition for Alien Workers *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    5-Year annual
                                                                average receipts (FY               Total annual
                      Period of analysis                           2018 through FY        Fee       fee revenue
                                                                        2022)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs).................                85,399      $2,500    $213,497,500
2023 CPI-U Adjustment.........................................                85,399       2,805     239,544,195
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
    Total Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-140..........  ....................  ..........     $26,046,695
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS Analysis.
*  Note: Classifications: E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3.

    As of January 30, 2023, Form I-140 petitions under an E13 
multinational executive and manager classification and petitions under 
an E21 national interest waiver (NIW) classification are eligible to 
request premium processing.\24\ Table 9 shows the estimated E13 
multinational executive and manager classification and E21 (NIW) 
classification populations that are now eligible for premium 
processing. Based on a 5-year annual average, DHS estimates the annual 
average receipts of Form I-140, E13 to be 11,752 and Form I-140, E21 to 
be 59,827 for a total of 71,579.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See supra FN 16.

 Table 9--Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, E13 and E21 Classifications, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      FY                                 E13                E21 (NIW)               Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018..........................................                13,596                61,650                75,246
2019..........................................                12,489                65,718                78,207
2020..........................................                11,220                53,288                64,508
2021..........................................                10,279                55,991                66,270
2022..........................................                11,178                62,487                73,665
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................                58,762               299,134               357,896
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual Average.................                11,752                59,827                71,579
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division, CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18,
  2023.


[[Page 89547]]

    Since E13 and E21 (NIW) Form I-140 applicants have only been 
recently eligible to request premium processing, DHS has no historical 
data to determine how many of the newly eligible population will take 
advantage of premium processing. Therefore, DHS uses the 57 percent 
average of Forms I-129 and Forms I-140 developed in Table 5, that 
request premium processing for this newly eligible population as a 
proxy. DHS is using the same methodology to estimate the transfers from 
the USCIS Stabilization Rule, because there is insufficient current 
data available for this population.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See 87 FR 18227.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 10 shows the total population by percentage for E13 and E21 
(NIW) petitioners who may choose to file Form I-140. The estimated 
population of petitioners who are projected to submit Form I-907, 
Request for Premium Processing Service, with Form I-140, Immigrant 
Petition for Alien Workers, based on the corresponding E13 and E21 
(NIW) classifications that were recently designated for premium 
processing is 40,800 (Table 10) per year.

 Table 10--Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Estimated Annual Average Petitions Filed for Premium
                             Processing, by Classification, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Percent                             E13                 E21 (NIW)                Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimate of Eligible Form I-140 Petitions               \A\ 6,699             \B\ 34,101                 40,800
 (57%).....................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\A\ Calculation: 6,699 = 11,752 (Table 9) x 0.57.
\B\ Calculation: 34,101 = 59,827 (Table 9) x 0.57.
Source: USCIS Analysis.

    Using this historical 5-year annual average from FY 2018 through FY 
2022, DHS estimates that as a result of the increase in filing fees for 
premium processing the additional annual transfer payments from these 
Form I-140 fee-paying populations to DHS will be $12,444,000 (Table 
11), for the biennial period after this rule takes effect.

     Table 11--Fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Currently Filed With Form I-140,
                                     Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    5-Year Annual
                                                                average receipts (FY               Total annual
                      Period of analysis                           2018 through FY        Fee       fee revenue
                                                                        2022)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs).................                40,800      $2,500    $102,000,000
2023 CPI-U Adjustment.........................................                40,800       2,805     114,444,000
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
    Total Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-140..........  ....................  ..........      12,444,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS Analysis.
*  Note: Classifications: E13 and E21 (NIW).

    Total estimated transfer payments for Form I-140, Immigrant 
Petition for Alien Worker, is $38,490,695 ($26,046,695 + $12,444,000) 
per year.
(c) Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, 
Transfer Payments
    The USCIS Stabilization Act authorized USCIS to permit premium 
processing for newly eligible Form I-539 filers. Per the statute, the 
fee was originally set at $1,750. In June 2023, USCIS announced 
eligibility for, F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, and M-2 change of status 
filers.\26\ This newly eligible population of filers are students and 
exchange visitors. Because premium processing was allowed for these 
classifications recently, DHS does not know how many currently eligible 
Form I-539 applicants will choose to submit a premium processing 
request. For purposes of this analysis, we present historical Form I-
539 filing rates and use projections of the premium processing demand 
rates for Form I-129 and Form I-140 filers to estimate the change in 
transfer payments as a result of the inflationary adjustment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-expands-premium-processing-for-applicants-seeking-to-change-into-f-m-or-j-nonimmigrant-status (last visited Aug 3, 2023).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 12 shows the 5-year annual average receipt volumes for the 
classifications that are now eligible for premium processing for FY 
2018 through FY 2022. DHS estimates the 5-year annual average of the 
currently eligible F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2 classifications to be 
19,550, and the 5-year annual average of the future eligible E-1, E-2, 
E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, R-2 classifications to be 124,842.

       Table 12--USCIS Total of Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, Receipts by
                                     Classification, FY 2018 Through FY 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2,  H-
                              FY                                F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2,  M-   4, O-3, P-4, R-2 Total
                                                                      1, M-2 Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018..........................................................                   19,464                  124,228
2019..........................................................                   17,565                  123,528
2020..........................................................                   20,005                  141,986

[[Page 89548]]

 
2021..........................................................                   16,645                  124,055
2022..........................................................                   24,072                  110,414
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................................                   97,751                  624,211
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual Average.................................                   19,550                  124,842
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division (PRD), CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July
  18, 2023.

    DHS calculated that 19,550 of the 144,392 newly eligible applicants 
would be applying for F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2 classifications 
(14%), and the remaining 124,842 would be applying for E-1, E-2, E-3, 
L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, R-2 classifications (86%). DHS uses the 57 percent 
averages of those requesting premium processing for Forms I-129 and I-
140 for the newly eligible Form I-539 population as a proxy.
    Of the 19,550 newly eligible applicants for F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-
1, M-2 classifications per year, DHS estimates that 11,144 applicants 
(57 percent of the eligible population, rounded) may submit a premium 
processing request along with their Form I-539 application. Of the 
124,842 newly eligible applicants for E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-
4, R-2 classifications per year, DHS estimates that 71,160 applicants 
(57 percent of the eligible population, rounded) may submit a premium 
processing request along with their Form I-539 application as shown in 
Table 13.

   Table 13--Estimated Annual Average Premium Processing Requests for Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change
                                               Nonimmigrant Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Form I-539 5-year
                                                                   annual average        Pct.
                      Classification type                         receipts (FY 2018   requesting       Total
                                                                  through FY 2022)   prem. proc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2 classifications...................              19,550           57          11,144
E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, R-2 classifications.........             124,842           57          71,160
                                                                ------------------------------------------------
    Total......................................................  ..................  ...........          82,304
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division, CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18,
  2023.

    The fee for all Form I-539 petitioners requesting premium 
processing will increase from $1,750 to $1,965, based off of the 12.3 
percent increase in the CPI-U from June 2021 to June 2023.\27\ Using 
the estimated premium processing requests developed in Table 13 above. 
In Table 14, DHS estimates the increase in filing fees for premium 
processing results in annual transfer payments from the Form I-539 fee-
paying population to DHS of $17,695,360, for the biennial period after 
this rule takes effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See supra FN 19.

     Table 14--Fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, Currently Filed With Form I-539,
                                Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    5-Year annual
                                                                  average receipts                 Total annual
                       Period of analysis                         (FY 2018 through       Fee        fee revenue
                                                                      FY 2022)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2 classifications:
    Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs)..............              11,144       $1,750     $19,502,000
    2023 CPI-U Adjustment......................................              11,144        1,965      21,897,960
                                                                ------------------------------------------------
        Total Transfer Payments................................  ..................  ...........       2,395,960
E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4, O-3, P-4, R-2 classifications:
    Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs)..............              71,160        1,750     124,530,000
    2023 CPI-U Adjustment......................................              71,160        1,965     139,829,400
                                                                ------------------------------------------------
        Total Transfer Payments................................  ..................  ...........      15,299,400
                                                                ------------------------------------------------
            Total Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-539...  ..................  ...........      17,695,360
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS Analysis.


[[Page 89549]]

(d) Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, Transfer 
Payments
    The USCIS Stabilization Act authorized USCIS to permit premium 
processing of the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. 
The USCIS Stabilization Act set the fee for the premium processing of 
Form I-765 at $1,500.\28\ USCIS began premium processing for Forms I-
765 for students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and 
students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
(STEM) OPT extensions in March 2023.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See USCIS Stabilization Act, Public Law 116-159 at sec. 
4102(b)(1)(D)(Oct. 1, 2020). See also 8 CFR 106.4(c).
    \29\ See https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-premium-processing-new-online-filing-procedures-for-certain-f-1-students-seeking-opt (last visited Aug. 3, 2023).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 15 shows the estimated OPT and STEM-OPT populations that are 
now eligible as well as the estimated population of other I-765 
categories the USCIS Stabilization Rule projected to become eligible 
for premium processing in the near future. Based on a 5-year annual 
average, DHS estimates the annual average receipts of Form I-765 from 
the OPT and STEM-OPT populations to be 200,204 for the biennial period 
after this rule takes effect. Additionally, DHS estimates the annual 
average receipts to be 102,495 from additional categories of Form I-765 
that are likely to become eligible for premium processing in the 
future.\30\ This population is included in Table 15 because Form I-765 
categories that become eligible in the near future may be impacted by 
the inflationary adjustments discussed in this rule. The USCIS 
Stabilization Rule's Regulatory Impact Analysis further projected 
1,136,691 annual Form I-765 receipts belonging to classifications for 
which USCIS will consider, but has no immediate plans to expand premium 
processing eligibility as well as a final group of 802,145 belonging to 
I-765 classifications USCIS is unlikely to ever make eligible for 
premium processing.\31\ These projected groups are excluded from Table 
15 and this Rule's analysis because they are unlikely to be impacted by 
the decision to adjust premium processing fees for inflation over this 
biennial cycle. These impacts would be more appropriately quantified in 
a future inflation adjustment rule, when some reasonable expectation 
exists that premium processing eligibility is likely in the future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See Implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS 
Stabilization Act, 87 FR 18227 (Mar. 30, 2022) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/03/30/2022-06742/implementation-of-the-emergency-stopgap-uscis-stabilization-act#h-34.
    \31\ The Implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS 
Stabilization Act Final Rule, published March 30, 2022 estimated the 
number of newly eligible applicants beginning around FY 2025 based 
on data from FY 2017 through FY 2021 actuals. This still serves as a 
reasonable measure should this population become available for 
premium processing in the near future. See 87 FR 18250.

     Table 15--Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization,
       Classifications by Implementation, FY 2017 Through FY 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Form I-765 OPT and    Form I-765 receipts
             FY                 STEM-OPT receipts    likely eligible in
                               currently eligible        the future
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017........................  ....................                96,806
2018........................               225,277               100,316
2019........................               215,212               110,743
2020........................               198,498               110,449
2021........................               173,773                94,160
2022........................               188,258  ....................
                             -------------------------------------------
    Total...................             1,001,018               512,474
                             -------------------------------------------
        5-year Annual                      200,204               102,495
         Average............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division,
  CLAIMS3 and ELIS database, July 18, 2023; Implementation of the
  Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, 87 FR 18227 (Mar. 30,
  2022).

    Since Form I-765 OPT and STEM-OPT applicants have only been 
recently eligible to request premium processing, DHS has no historical 
data to determine how many of the newly eligible population will take 
advantage of premium processing. Therefore, DHS uses the 57 percent 
average of Forms I-129 and I-140 developed in Table 5, that request 
premium processing for this newly eligible population as a proxy for 
all eligible Form I-765 categories. DHS used the same methodology to 
estimate the transfers from the USCIS Stabilization Rule.
    DHS estimates that 114,116 applicants (57 percent of the eligible 
population) out of the 200,204 (Table 15) Form I-765 OPT and STEM-OPT 
applicants who apply annually may submit a premium processing request 
with their Form I-765 application.\32\ DHS also estimates that 58,422 
applicants (57 percent of the eligible population) out of the 102,495 
(Table 15) employment authorization document applicants who apply 
annually may become eligible to submit a premium processing request 
with their Form I-765 application in the near future.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Calculation: 200,204 applicants * 57 percent = 114,116.
    \33\ Calculation: 102,495 applicants * 57 percent = 58,422.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In Table 16, DHS uses the 114,116 and 58,422 population estimates 
from OPT and OPT-STEM population as well as the likely future eligible 
Form I-765 population to DHS to estimate transfer payments for each 
category. The fee for all Form I-765 applicants requesting premium 
processing will increase from $1,500 to $1,685, based off the 12.3 
percent increase in the CPI-U from June 2021 to June 2023.\34\ DHS 
estimates that annual transfer payments from currently eligible OPT and 
OPT-STEM Form I-765 applicants requesting premium processing using Form 
I-907 will be $21,111,460 to DHS for the biennial period after this 
rule takes effect. DHS estimates that annual transfer payments from 
likely future eligible will be $10,808,070 to DHS. Accordingly, DHS 
estimates that total annual transfer payments from Form I-765 
applicants requesting request premium processing using Form I-907 will 
be $31,919,530 to DHS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ See supra FN 19.

[[Page 89550]]



     Table 16--Fees for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, Applicants Requesting Premium
                       Processing Using Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 5-Year annual
                                                               average receipts                 Total annual fee
                     Period of analysis                        (FY 2018 through       Fee           revenue
                                                                   FY 2022)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form I-765 OPT and OPT-STEM Receipts Currently Eligible:
    Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs)...........             114,116       $1,500       $171,174,000
2023 CPI-U Adjustment.......................................             114,116        1,685        192,285,460
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total Transfer Payments.............................  ..................  ...........         21,111,460
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period of analysis                                                 5-year annual          Fee              Total
                                                                average receipts
                                                                (FY 2017 through
                                                                        FY 2021)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form I-765 Receipts Likely Eligible in the Future:
    Post-USCIS Stabilization Act (Baseline Costs)...........              58,422       $1,500        $87,633,000
    2023 CPI-U Adjustment...................................              58,422        1,685         98,441,070
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total Transfer Payments.............................  ..................  ...........        $10,808,070
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
            Total Change in Transfer Payments for Form I-765  ..................  ...........        $31,919,530
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: USCIS Analysis.

Paperwork Reduction Act
    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-12, DHS 
must submit to OMB, for review and approval, any reporting requirements 
inherent in a rule unless they are exempt. This rule does not impose 
any reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. USCIS will update the fee for filing USCIS Form I-907 as 
appropriate.

List of Subjects in 8 CFR Part 106

    Fees, Immigration.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Department of Homeland 
Security amends 8 CFR part 106 as follows:

PART 106--USCIS FEE SCHEDULE

0
1. The authority citation for part 106 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1254a, 1254b,1304, 1356; Pub. 
L.107-296; 48 U.S.C 1806; Pub. L. 115-218; Pub. L. 116-159.


0
2. Section 106.4 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  106.4  Premium processing service.

* * * * *
    (c) Designated benefit requests and fee amounts. Benefit requests 
designated for premium processing and the corresponding fees to request 
premium processing service are as follows:
    (1) Application for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(E)(i), (ii), or (iii) of the INA--$2,805.
    (2) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the INA or section 222(a) of the 
Immigration Act of 1990, Public Law 101-649--$2,805.
    (3) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the INA--$1,685.
    (4) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(H)(iii) of the INA--$2,805.
    (5) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(L) of the INA--$2,805.
    (6) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(O)(i) or (ii) of the INA--$2,805.
    (7) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(P)(i), (ii), or (iii) of the INA--$2,805.
    (8) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the INA--$2,805.
    (9) Petition for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(R) of the INA--$1,685.
    (10) Application for classification of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 214(e) of the INA--$2,805.
    (11) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(1)(A) of the 
INA--$2,805.
    (12) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(1)(B) of the 
INA--$2,805.
    (13) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(2)(A) of the 
INA not involving a waiver under section 203(b)(2)(B) of the INA--
$2,805.
    (14) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(3)(A)(i) of 
the INA--$2,805.
    (15) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(3)(A)(ii) of 
the INA--$2,805.
    (16) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(3)(A)(iii) of 
the INA--$2,805.
    (17) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(1)(C) of the 
INA--$2,805.
    (18) Petition for classification under section 203(b)(2) of the INA 
involving a waiver under section 203(b)(2)(B) of the INA--$2,805.
    (19) Application under section 248 of the INA to change status to a 
classification described in section 101(a)(15)(F), (J), or (M) of the 
INA--$1,965.
    (20) Application under section 248 of the INA to change status to 
be classified as a dependent of a nonimmigrant described in section 
101(a)(15)(E), (H), (L), (O), (P), or (R) of the INA, or to extend stay 
in such classification--$1,965.
    (21) Application for employment authorization--$1,685.
* * * * *

Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2023-28529 Filed 12-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P