Starting April 1, 2024, USCIS will implement revised filing fees, notably affecting employment-based petitions. Among the adjustments, fees for H-1B and L-1 petitions will surge significantly. For instance, the H-1B petition fee will soar to $780, marking a 70% increase from the previous $460, while the L-1 petition fee will jump to $1,385, a remarkable 201% rise from $460. However, certain exemptions will apply to small employers and nonprofits.
Apart from base fee hikes, Forms I-129 and I-140 will now incur an additional $600 Asylum Program Fee. While nonprofit petitioners will be exempt, small employers will face a reduced fee of $300. Moreover, the fee for H-1B cap registration will elevate to $215 per registered beneficiary, effective from the FY 2026 cap season starting March 2025.
The updated rule extends the premium processing timeline from calendar to business days and segregates adjustment of status and associated benefit fees. Despite legal challenges, the new fees will proceed as scheduled on April 1, affecting filings postmarked thereafter.
Source: Fragomen
