Release Date 08/24/2026 WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to establish a $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The proposed fee would be paid at the time of filing and would be imposed in addition to all other applicable fees or payments. The proposed fee would generate revenue to recover a portion of the federal government’s costs for administering the lawful immigration system. These costs include adjudication of immigration benefits, fraud detection and national security vetting, systems modernization, records and fee collection operations, immigration court operations, consular visa processing, labor standards enforcement, and interagency coordination. DHS estimates the proposed fee would generate approximately $8.8 billion annually, based on a projected annual volume of 85,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions. “The proposed H‑1B fee is intended to recover the costs incurred across the federal government to adjudicate, vet, and support lawful immigration programs that otherwise must be funded by taxpayers,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Zach Kahler. Under the proposed rule, the additional fee would not apply to H-1B petitions that are not subject to the cap, such as petitions filed by certain nonprofit research organizations, governmental research organizations, and institutions of higher education. The number of cap-subject H-1B visas (or grants of status) issued annually is limited to 65,000, with an additional 20,000 for aliens who have earned a master’s or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education. For more information, see the notice of proposed rulemaking . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-proposes-additional-h-1b-fee 

Release Date 08/19/2026 On Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS will publish a revised edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or A djust Status (edition date: 09/18/26). The form has been revised to align with the recently announced Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule. The 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 replaces the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485. USCIS is providing a preview version of the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 and its instructions because there is no grace period for accepting the revised edition of Form I-485. Do not file the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 before Sept. 18, 2026. We will only accept the 09/18/26 edition of this form if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026. If you file Form I-485, please note that: USCIS will accept the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485 if it is postmarked or electronically submitted before Sept. 18, 2026; USCIS will reject the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-485 if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026; and USCIS will only accept the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 18, 2026. Visit the Form I-485 webpage to view the preview version of the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 and its instructions. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-to-publish-new-edition-of-form-i-485-older-editions-will-be-rejected-starting-sept-18