H-1B Visa Filing Fees and Costs for Employers in 2025
H-1B visas, which are designated for nonimmigrant foreign individuals with specialty skills to work in America, are a critical tool for employers to build the workforce they need to succeed.
However, since each H-1B petition can normally cost thousands of dollars, companies have to be budget-minded when determining just how many H-1B visa holders to employ. With the recent addition of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions, it has become more expensive than ever to hire new international talent.
To make financial forecasting for your organization simpler, we’ll unpack all the different fees that are required to file for an H-1B visa in this article.
| 📢 The rules for H-1B visas are changing fast. A new $100,000 H-1B fee was recently announced by the Trump administration, and the situation is rapidly developing. For the most up-to-date H-1B news, read our live updates here. |
What are the H-1B visa costs for employers?
As of 2025, the cost of H-1B visa sponsorship typically ranges from about $2,000 to almost $8,000, depending on the type of employer, the number of other nonimmigrant workers they employ, and whether the H-1B beneficiary is a first-time applicant. Premium processing adds another $2,965 filing fee, but it’s optional.
All told, it could cost employers $10,000 or more to hire an H-1B worker. In addition, companies may also have to pay a new, separate $100,000 fee implemented in September 2025.
We’ve dived into each required form and its associated fee below.
| ➡️ Important: The listed filing fees here are accurate as of November 2025 and are subject to change. We always recommend checking USCIS’s official Filing Fees page or consulting with your immigration attorney for the most up-to-date information on filing fees. |
Cost of filing the Labor Condition Application
To begin the H-1B process, organizations must complete the Labor Condition Application (LCA). This form does not come with an associated fee.
Note: As of October 1, 2025, the U.S. government has been shut down pending approval of the Congressional spending budget. While some immigration agencies like USCIS will continue to operate, the Department of Labor, which processes LCAs, will not. Read more about the shutdown and its effects on immigration.
Cost of online registration for H-1B beneficiaries
The employer must electronically register each H-1B petition they’re filing. The cost of each registration is $215.
Cost of filing Form I-129
Employers must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and pay all the associated costs to petition for an H-1B visa. The law only allows the employee to pay for premium processing if that is requested for the personal benefit of the employee and not the employer. The bulk of the required filing fees are paid upon submission of this form.
The costs are outlined below:
| Name of fee | Which employers need to pay the fee | Associated Cost |
| Filing the form | All employers | Regular employees should expect to pay $780 if submitting a paper application or $730 if filing online. Small employers and nonprofits should expect to pay $460 for either a paper filing fee or online fee. |
| Asylum Program fee | All employers except nonprofits | Regular petitioners will pay a $600 Asylum Program fee. Small employers have to pay a $300 Asylum Program fee. |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection fee | Employers filing for initial approval of an H-1B worker or for an H-1B worker that already works for another petitioner (Fee isn’t applicable to those filing for a Chile or Singapore H-1B1 Free Trade visa) | $500 |
| Additional fee outlined from Public Law 114-113 | Employers who are required to pay the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and have 50+ employees in the United States, of which over 50% of those employees are holding a H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B visa. | $4,000 |
| A fee under the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) | All employers except institutes of higher education and some nonprofits, on behalf of an H-1B beneficiary when filing an initial petition, a change of status to H-1B, an H-1B company transfer, or a first petition requesting an extension of stay. | $750 or $1,500, depending on the number of workers employed |
All fees are current as of October 2025.
Cost of filing Form I-907 to employers
An organization can also pay for faster processing of Form I-129 with Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. Keep in mind this is not a required fee to file for an H-1B visa, but rather an optional one.
This costs $2,965 for H-1B petitions.
When do employers pay the $100,000 H-1B filing fee?
H-1B visa petitions may now need to be accompanied by an additional one-time $100,000 fee for employers. However, this fee only applies to new applications for H-1B visas made on behalf of a beneficiary outside the U.S., according to guidance issued on October 20, 2025.
If you’re already in the U.S. on a valid H-1B visa, you can request an extension or an H-1B transfer without incurring the new fee, if approved by USCIS.
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Specialized workers acting in the national interest of the U.S.
The Proclamation from the White House outlined that at the “Secretary of Homeland Security’s discretion” specialty workers who operate “in the national interest” will not be subject to this new fee.
However, as of October 2025, no official documentation released has further defined this exemption. Our team is keeping a close eye on any additional information to be released.
Moving forward with your H1-B sponsorship decisions
Once you understand all the different costs that filing an H-1B sponsorship entails, you’ll be able to create the right plan for your business.
If you’re an employer and you need support with the H-1B sponsorship process, Manifest Law’s H1-B lawyers have experience working with a wide array of companies across a variety of industries.
And if you’re not sure that the H-1B is right for your workers, read about possible H-1B alternatives for employers.
👉 Want to learn more about how our experienced H-1B visa lawyers can assist you on your H1-B journey? Request a consultation with Manifest Law today.
