Every H-1B fee in the cost of an H1 visa
The cost of an H1 visa petition is the sum of several separate government fees, each with its own rules about who pays and when.[1][2]
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129 (H-1B) | $780 paper / $730 online; $460 small employer or nonprofit | Every petition |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600; $300 small employer; $0 nonprofit | Every Form I-129 petition |
| ACWIA training fee | $1,500; $750 for 1–25 employees | New, change of employer, first extension; exempt for universities and research nonprofits |
| Fraud prevention and detection | $500 | First H-1B approval for the worker, or a new employer |
| Public Law 114-113 | $4,000 | 50+ U.S. employees with over half in H-1B/L status; since Sept 9, 2026 also all extensions |
| Registration | $215 | Each cap lottery registration |
| Premium processing (I-907) | $2,965 | Optional; 15 business days |
“Small employer” means 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in the U.S., counting affiliates and subsidiaries; “nonprofit” covers nonprofit schools, colleges, 501(c)(3) organizations and government research organizations.[3] The ACWIA amounts are set by statute: $1,500, or half that for employers with 25 or fewer U.S. employees.[4] The online discount does not apply to the reduced $460 fee.[3]
Recent changes to H1B fees
- Premium processing rose from $2,805 to $2,965 for requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026.[6]
- Public Law 114-113 fee: a final rule effective September 9, 2026 makes covered employers pay it on all extension petitions; the fee is set to expire on September 30, 2027.[5]
- Registration is $215 per beneficiary for the FY2027 cap.[7]
- Proposed, not final: DHS proposed a further $103,265 fee on every cap-subject H-1B petition (comments closed September 24, 2026). It does not apply unless a final rule is published.[11]
The $100,000 H-1B payment: current status
Proclamation 10973 (September 19, 2025) restricted entry of new H-1B workers unless the petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment, and Proclamation 11069 extended it until September 21, 2027.[8][9] USCIS guidance applies it to petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025 for workers outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B visa, and to requests for consular notification; not to a change of status or extension granted inside the U.S.[10]
On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated the agency guidance implementing the payment, and the First Circuit denied a stay on July 24, 2026. USCIS says DHS “will comply with the court’s order while DHS considers next steps” and still plans to collect the payment if the order is lifted.[10] The October 2026 fee schedule still lists the $100,000 line.[1] We could not find a USCIS statement on how the September 2026 extension is applied given the court order, so check USCIS’s H-1B page before filing a petition for a worker abroad.
Who may pay which fee
The fraud and ACWIA fees are imposed on the employer by statute.[4] Premium processing can be requested by the employer for the I-129. Fees for the worker’s own visa appointment abroad and for H-4 family members are separate and not shown here. For the lottery itself, see H1B lottery odds; for pay rules, H1B salary and wage levels; for the full program, the H1 B visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the H1B fee in 2026?
For a first petition by a for-profit employer with more than 25 U.S. employees: $780 I-129 + $600 Asylum Program Fee + $1,500 ACWIA + $500 fraud fee = $3,380, plus $215 for the lottery registration and $2,965 if premium processing is used.
Is the $100,000 H1B fee still in effect?
The proclamation was extended to September 21, 2027, but a federal court vacated USCIS’s implementing guidance in June 2026 and DHS says it is complying with the order. Its application is therefore uncertain; check USCIS before filing.
Does the $100,000 apply to H-1B extensions or change of status?
Under USCIS’s guidance it does not apply to a change of status, amendment or extension for a worker inside the U.S. that is granted, or to holders of a currently valid H-1B visa.
What is the cost of an H1 visa for a small company?
A first petition from an employer with 25 or fewer U.S. employees costs $2,010: $460 I-129, $300 Asylum Program Fee, $750 ACWIA and $500 fraud fee.
Sources
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/26/26)
- H and L Filing Fees for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
- 8 CFR 106.1 and 106.2: USCIS fee definitions and fee amounts
- 8 U.S.C. 1184 (INA 214): admission of nonimmigrants (H-1B cap, ACWIA and fraud fees)
- 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visas, final rule, 91 FR 51360
- Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees, final rule, 91 FR 1059
- H-1B Electronic Registration Process (registration statistics)
- Proclamation 10973, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, 90 FR 46027
- Proclamation 11069, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers (extension), 91 FR 60497
- H-1B Specialty Occupations
- Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions, proposed rule, 91 FR 54817