USCIS Hikes Work Visa Fees

Employers face significantly higher immigration processing fees for temporary and permanent work visas from April 1, 2024.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a final rule Jan. 31 implementing a range of fees based on visa classifications.

The new fees largely match those the agency initially proposed in January 2023 and represent the first increases since 2016.

Employers hiring high-skilled foreign nationals will pay 70% more for H-1B petitions, 201% more for L-1 petitions, and 129% more for O-1 petitions.

The new fees will generate an estimated additional $1.14 billion in revenue for the agency, with most of the new costs carried by employers.

USCIS officials said the additional revenues will offset rising costs and allow the agency to “continue using innovative solutions to improve customer experience and stem backlog growth.”

Fee Schedule

The current visa fee schedule sets the same $460 filing fee for all classifications using form I-129, including H-1B, L-1, TN, and E-3 petitions.

After April 1, I-129 fees will vary based on visa classification, with nonprofit organizations and small employers (those with 25 or fewer employees) paying 50% of listed fees.

Those new fees include:

• I-129 H-1B: $780 (+70%)
• I-129 H-2A-Named Beneficiaries: $1,090 (+137%)
• I-129 H-2A-Unnamed Beneficiaries: $530 (+15%)
• I-129 H-2B-Named Beneficiaries: $1,080 (+135%)
• I-129 H-2B-Unnamed Beneficiaries: $580 (+26%)
• I-129 Petition for L Nonimmigrant Workers: $1,385 (+201%)
• I-129 Petition for O Nonimmigrant Workers: $1,055 (+129%)
• I-129CW CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker and I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (E, H-3, P, Q, R, or TN Classifications): $1,015 (+121%)

In addition, the H-1B registration processing fee will jump 2,050% from $10 to $215. That change takes effect for the March 2025 registration period, as 2024 registrations are due before April 1.

Asylum Program Fee

USCIS also adopted a new $600 asylum program fee for employers sponsoring temporary workers or workers for permanent residence visas.

That fee applies each time an employer uses Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker, or Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers.

Nonprofit petitioners are exempt from asylum program fee and small employers will pay a $300 fee.

The fee increases follow increased premium processing fees that take effect Feb. 26, with premium processing times also extended to 15 business days (rather than 15 calendar days).

USCIS also released a final rule Jan. 31 changing the H-1B registration process to discourage multiple registrations for individuals.

That rule takes effect before the 2024 registration period begins March 6.