The I-129 filing fee ranges from $460 for a small employer’s H-1B petition to $1,385 for a large employer’s L-1, but that base charge is rarely the full price. Most H-1B and L-1 petitions carry three additional mandatory fees on top of the base, and a large employer filing a new H-1B typically owes about $3,380 before optional premium processing. Getting the total wrong by even a dollar gets the whole petition rejected.
Base Fees by Visa Classification
USCIS sets I-129 fees under 8 CFR ยง 106.2, with the amount tied to the nonimmigrant classification and the size of the petitioning employer. The figures below are for standard (large) employers filing on paper.
- H-1B and H-1B1: $780
- L-1A and L-1B: $1,385
- O-1 and O-2: $1,055
- E-1, E-2, E-3, TN, H-3, P, and Q: $1,015
- R-1: $510
- H-2A, named workers (up to 25): $1,090
- H-2A, unnamed workers: $530
- H-2B, named workers (up to 25): $1,080
- H-2B, unnamed workers: $580
Online filing carries a small discount for the classifications that allow it. H-1B online is $730 instead of $780. H-2A online is $1,040 for named workers and $480 for unnamed.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule
Small Employer and Nonprofit Rates
A small employer, defined as one with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, pays roughly half the standard base fee. Qualifying nonprofits pay the same reduced rate no matter how many people they employ.2eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – Fees
An organization qualifies as a nonprofit for fee purposes if it is tax-exempt under IRC 501(c)(3), is a governmental research organization, is a not-for-profit educational institution (including primary, secondary, and higher education), or is a nonprofit affiliated with a qualifying college or university.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Frequently Asked Questions on the USCIS Fee Rule
At the reduced rate, an H-1B costs $460, an L-1 costs $695, O classifications cost $530, and the E/H-3/P/Q/TN group costs $510.2eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – Fees
The Mandatory Add-On Fees
Three separate charges stack on top of the base filing fee for many petitions. Leaving any required one out of the package causes USCIS to reject the entire filing.
ACWIA Training Fee (H-1B Only)
The American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act fee applies to H-1B petitions filed for initial status, for a first extension with the same employer, or to change employers. Employers with more than 25 full-time equivalent employees pay $1,500. Employers with 25 or fewer pay $750.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1184 – Admission of Nonimmigrants
A second or subsequent extension for the same worker with the same employer does not trigger the fee, and amendments without an extension request are also exempt.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. H and L Filing Fees for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker Institutions of higher education, affiliated nonprofits, nonprofit and governmental research organizations, and primary and secondary schools are permanently exempt from the ACWIA fee.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1184 – Admission of Nonimmigrants
Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee
A flat $500 fee applies to H-1B and L-1 petitions for initial status or a change of employer. Extensions with the same employer do not require it, and H-1B1 Free Trade petitions for Chile and Singapore nationals are also exempt.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-129 Instructions – Additional Fees for H-1B, L-1, and H-2B Petitions
Asylum Program Fee
Every I-129 petitioner pays an Asylum Program Fee unless exempt. Standard employers pay $600, small employers pay $300, and nonprofits pay nothing.2eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – Fees
The Large H-1B/L-1 Employer Surcharge
Under Public Law 114-113, an employer with 50 or more employees whose U.S. workforce is more than half H-1B or L-1 owes an extra $4,000 per H-1B petition or $4,500 per L-1 petition for initial status or a change of employer. Extensions with the same employer are not affected. In practice this hits large outsourcing and IT staffing firms and rarely reaches other petitioners.
The H-1B Registration Fee Comes First
Before a cap-subject H-1B employer can file the I-129 at all, it has to submit an electronic registration during the annual lottery period and pay $215 per beneficiary.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 4 The registration fee is separate from every fee described above. Only selected registrations proceed to the I-129 stage. Cap-exempt H-1B petitions, such as those from universities and affiliated nonprofits, skip registration entirely.
What a New H-1B Actually Costs
For a large employer filing a new H-1B petition on paper, the fees add up like this:
- Base filing fee: $780
- ACWIA training fee: $1,500
- Fraud Prevention and Detection fee: $500
- Asylum Program fee: $600
- Total: $3,380
A small employer filing the same petition pays $460 + $750 + $500 + $300, for a total of $2,010. A qualifying educational or research nonprofit owes only $460 + $500 = $960, because it is exempt from both the ACWIA and Asylum Program fees.2eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – Fees Add $215 for the registration on cap-subject filings, and add premium processing if you want faster adjudication.
Premium Processing
Filing Form I-907 alongside the I-129 buys faster handling. As of March 1, 2026, the premium processing fee is $2,965 for most I-129 classifications and $1,780 for H-2B and R-1 petitions.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Fees
USCIS commits to taking action within 15 business days of receiving the premium request. Action can be an approval, a denial, a request for evidence, or a notice of intent to deny, so it is not a guaranteed final decision. A request for evidence stops the clock, which restarts when the employer responds.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How Do I Request Premium Processing If USCIS misses the window, it refunds the premium fee and keeps working the case.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Request for Premium Processing Service
How to Pay, and Why the Amount Has to Be Exact
USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, business checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper-filed I-129s except in narrow hardship cases. Paper filings pay by credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or by ACH bank transfer using Form G-1650. Place the authorization form on top of the petition package. Online-filed H-1B and H-2A petitions pay electronically inside the filing system.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Filing Fees
If the payment amount is wrong or a card is declined, USCIS rejects the whole filing without asking for a correction, and you lose your filing date.12U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1 – Part B – Chapter 3 For time-sensitive H-1B cap filings, that can end the case for the year. The USCIS fee calculator gives a running total, but the safer check is the current G-1055 fee schedule, because the calculator sometimes lags behind rule changes.