How Much Does H1B Sponsorship Cost?

Under the new fee structure, a company can spend around $4,000 to $18,000 to petition for a first-time H-1B visa holder. Learn more in this post.

The H1B visa for employers is expensive. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sets different fees for every aspect of the application process, with additional fees connected to legal fees for using optional services, such as premium processing.

Employer’s Responsibility

The employer is primarily responsible for many of the H1B sponsorship costs and other visa fees associated with filing the initial petition and ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration law.

Some of the costs include:

• Basic Filing Fee: The fee for filing Form I-129, better known as the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, is $780.
• Workforce Improvement Act Fee: The American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act funds training for U.S. workers. Employers must pay $750 if they have 25 or fewer employees and $1,500 if they manage more workers.
• Detection Fee: USCIS uses the Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, which amounts to $500 payable by the employer, to investigate and prevent fraudulent applications.
• Asylum Program Fee: This new fee of $600 was introduced in 2024. It's payable by all petitioners of Form I-129.
• Public Law 114-113 Fee: Employers with more than 50 employees, where over half of them are on H1B and L-1 visas, are required to pay an additional fee of $4,000.
• Premium Processing Fees: This optional fee for expedited processing of the H1B petition is $2,805. This helps guarantee premium processing within 15 days.
• Attorney Fees: The fees for assisting the H1B application may range from $1,500 to $4,000 for an initial petition. Employers have to pay more when USCIS requests more evidence.

These are costs that the employer has to pay in order to sponsor a foreign worker. In addition, the employer also must promise to pay the prevailing wage. In other words, an employer cannot pay a foreign employee less than they would pay an American worker in the same position.

All of these filing fees and costs are in place to protect the American worker. Congress makes it expensive for employers to sponsor foreign workers so that employers favor American workers.

Employee Costs

The employee must shoulder the costs of applying for the visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the employee's home country. Depending on the employee's nationality, they may pay a visa application fee and a possible reciprocity fee. They should also seek the help of an immigration attorney to guide them with the legalities of getting an H1B visa.

To better understand the fees and immigration services involved in applying for an H-1B visa, reach out at Hacking Immigration Law, LLC today for a consultation.

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