Applying for an H-1B visa entails a number of fees. The information presented here serves to clarify which fees apply to your specific situation.

Before Filing

Ifyour H-1B registration is selected, it’s imperative to get your fees in order before submitting your petition to the USCIS. Otherwise, your H-1B application may be denied. Due to the annual cap and heavy demand, H-1B petition shall be filed with a designated 90-day period. If theoriginal petition is rejected due to an easily avoidable mistake of remitting incorrect payment, and the petition deadline has already passed, it would be extremely frustrating because it is too late to claim the “prize.” Therefore, it is essential to understand what kind of and how much filling fees you should pay.

Table of Fees

The current table of fees provides three different schedules for a Regular Petitioner, Small Employer (having 25 employee or fewer full-time equivalent employees), or Nonprofit respectively. The applicable fees for H-1B1 petition on behalf of a Chile or Singapore beneficiary employee is similar. A petitioning employer should prepare a transaction authorization form in the applicable amount.

(The fees schedules belowdo not include attorney’s fees; if you choose to hire a Zhang & Associates attorney, note the rates our firm charges for professional services rendered on this page.)

Fee Name	Fee Amount	More Information
Base Filing Fee (Paper Filing)	$780, OR $460	$460 if petitioner is filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit.
Asylum Program Fee	$600, OR $300, OR $0	$300 if petitioner is filing as a Small Employer. $0(NOT required) if petitioner is filing as aNonprofit.
Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee	$500	This fee is required if petition is (1) seeking initial approval of H-1B nonimmigrant status for a beneficiary; or (2) seeking approval to employ an H-1B nonimmigrant currently working for another petitioner (change of employer). This fee is NOT required for H-1B1 any petition.
American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA)	$1,500, OR $750, OR $0	This fee is required if the petition is (1) an initial one on behalf of a beneficiary employee, (2) for change of status to H-1B, (3) change of employer, (4) first extension by the same petitioning employer for the same beneficiary employee. $0 (NOT required) if petitioner is (1) an eligible institution of higher education, (2) a nonprofit related to (1), (3) A nonprofit research organization or governmental research organization, (4) A primary or secondary educational institution; or (5)A nonprofit entity which engages in an established curriculum-related clinical training program for students. $750 if petitioner is filing as a Small Employer, or Nonprofit not eligible for the exempt.
Public Law 114-113 Fee	$4,000	Under Public Law 114-113, the petitioning employer is obligated to pay this fee if it is required to submit the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee, it has more than 50 employees, and more than 50% of its employees are on H-1B or L-1 status.
Presidential Proclamation on Restriction of Entry of               Certain Nonimmigrant Workers	$100,000	This fee is required for (1) the 2026 lottery, (2) any other H-1B petitionssubmitted after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on Sept. 21, 2025, and (3) H-1B visa issuances based on H-1B petitions filed with USCIS after the same time.
Premium Processing Services Fee	$2,805	Optional, if a petitioning employer desires to have the petition adjudicated within 15 business days.

Source: USCIS

Case Studies

The following examples will help illustrate USCIS filing fee requirements:

Background

Timmy, an H-1B worker, seeks to change his employer and accordingly requires an H-1B transfer (because H-1B status is valid only for employment with the original sponsoring company or institution). The new petitioner is a Fortune 500 company with thousands of employees in the U.S.
What are the correct filing fees?

The new employer has to pay the following filing fees for the H-1B transfer petition: $780 (base filing fee), $600 (Asylum Program Fee), $500 (Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee), and $1,500 (ACWIA). Thus, the total fee for this H-1B transfer is $3,380.

Background

Slim Jim is a current H-1B beneficiary who’s in the process of changing his employer. His new boss, Jerky Joe, is a small start-up company with 10 employees.
What are the correct filing fees?

As the petitioner, Jerky Joe has to pay the following filing fees for the H-1B transfer petition: $460 (base filing fee), $300 (Asylum Program Fee),$500 (Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee), $750 (ACWIA). Thus, the total fee for this H-1B transfer is $2,010. 

Background

Mr. Rogers seeks employment as an H-1B worker at the University of Make-Believe.
What are the correct filing fees?

His H-1B petition requires the following filing fees: $460 (base filing fee), $300 (Asylum Program Fee), and $500 (Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee). However, because a university is an institution of higher education exempted under ACWIA, the employer sponsorship fee is waived. But it is not a Nonprofit. Thus, the total fee for Mr. Rogers’ H-1B visa petition is only $1,260.

We’re here to help

It can be hard to keep track of all the forms you have to submit and the fees you have to pay. The USCIS I-129 fee page will have the most up-to-date information about the various filing fees for the H-1 visa, but it would be even more convenient to have a dedicated legal expert on your side to guide you through the process.

Our experienced immigration attorneys are here to guide professionals through the complicated H-1B application process, and minimize any and all confusion or challenges. We understand how important an H-1B visa is to you, whether as the employer or the prospective employee. Our seasoned staff and years-long track record of success make Zhang & Associates the natural choice to facilitate your H-1B petitions.

Keep in mind that if you retain Zhang and Associates for your H-1B petition, you will have to pay attorney’s fees in addition to the filing fees you must pay to USCIS. You can find our attorney’s fees here.

For more detailed information on the H-1B category, including minimum requirements and USCIS policies, refer to the following links:

General H-1B Topics

H-1B Articles

H-1B Visa: Temporary Workers in "Specialty" Occupations H-1B Requirements H-1B Services We Provide Applying for an H-1B Visa H-1B Advantages H-1B Limitations H-1B Documentation List Extending H-1B Status Beyond Six Years H-1B1 Subcategory: Free Trade Agreement H-1B2 Subcategory: Department of Defense H-1B3 Subcategory: Fashion Models Guidance on H-1Bs for Nurses H-1B Premium Processing and Related Issues H-4 Visas: Spouses and Children of H-1B Workers Frequently Asked Questions about H-1B Visas Filing Fees Attorney's Fees

The Cap USCIS Guidance on H-1B Cap Exemptions After the Cap Off-site Employees "Recapturing" Unused Time H-1B-Dependent Employers "Benching" H-1B Workers The Portability Rule Maintaining H-1B Status during Corporate Changes H-1B vs. O-1 Issues Relating to F-1 and OPT Issues Relating to Work, Travel, and Adjusting Status Memo: H-1B Status during the I-485 Waiting Period Memo: Be Aware of Abandonment Frequently Asked Questions about I-140 and I-485 Filing

 

Updated 11/29/2025