Published by: The Economic Times - May, 08, 2026
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/us-visa-paying-extra-has-become-the-only-way-forward-for-many-h-1b-f-1-opt-l-1-applicants/articleshow/130950024.cms
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
“Premium processing has quietly shifted from an optional convenience to a functional necessity across virtually every major immigration category,” said Rajiv Khanna, a US-based immigration attorney.
“In our practice, we see this in F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, H-1B, L-1, NIW, EB-1, and I-140 cases, almost without exception,” Khanna said.
“When USCIS standard processing times stretch to several months, applicants who need their work authorization or status approved before a job start date, a visa expiry, or an OPT gap deadline have no real choice,” Khanna said. “They pay, or they lose ground they cannot recover.”
“The fees are not trivial,” Khanna said.
“As of March 2026, premium processing for OPT and STEM OPT costs $1,780 in addition to the base filing fee. For H-1B and L-1 petitions, the premium fee is $2,965, again on top of the already substantial base fees,” he said.
“When you add attorney fees, the real cost of a single immigration filing can easily cross $10,000,” Khanna said. “For an international student paying out of pocket, or a small employer sponsoring a worker, that is a serious financial burden.”