United States of America
H-1B Specialty Occupation: government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
A single initial H-1B petition costs around $3,600 in USCIS filing fees for a standard employer, excluding premium processing and the separate consular visa fee.
These are the fees paid to the United States of America government. Your employer does not pay these fees — they are paid by you as the applicant (though some employers reimburse them). Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the H-1B Specialty Occupation cost in United States?
A single initial H-1B petition costs around $3,600 in USCIS filing fees for a standard employer, excluding premium processing and the separate consular visa fee.
Verified against USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) on 1 June 2026.
Headline total
US$3,595
Initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premium
Currency
USD (United States dollar)
Last checked
1 June 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
USCIS registration fee (annual lottery entry) Raised from $10 to $215 in April 2024. Confirmed against the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055), which is PDF-backed — not auto-extractable, so this line stays on manual review. | US$215 | Yes |
I-129 filing fee (petition, standard) Employers with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees pay $460. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review). | US$780 | Yes |
Asylum Program Fee Non-profits and small employers pay reduced or zero rates ($300 / $0). Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review). | US$600 | Yes |
ACWIA training fee Employers with 25 or fewer employees pay $750. Some petitions are exempt (e.g. primary/secondary schools). Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review). | US$1,500 | Yes |
Fraud Prevention & Detection Fee (initial petitions only) Paid once for an initial H-1B petition; not repeated on extensions. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review). | US$500 | Yes |
Public Law 114-113 fee (large H-1B-dependent employers) Applies only to employers with 50+ employees where more than 50% are on H-1B or L-1. | US$4,000 | Optional |
Premium Processing (optional) Guarantees USCIS adjudicative action within 15 business days. Raised from $2,500 in February 2024. | US$2,965 | Optional |
DS-160 / consular visa fee (applying from abroad) Paid by the beneficiary at the US embassy/consulate after petition approval. | US$205 | Optional |
Worked example
Initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premium — US$3,595
- $215 registration
- $780 I-129
- $600 Asylum Program Fee
- $1,500 ACWIA training
- $500 Fraud Prevention & Detection
How to read these fees
The US$3,595 headline covers initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premium. Of the 8 components listed above, 5 are mandatory and 3 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is ACWIA training fee at US$1,500.
Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
Dependant fees
H-4 dependants pay a $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 fee is $205 each where applicable.
Why fees change
Fees were substantially restructured on 1 April 2024; premium processing then rose to $2,965 on 1 March 2026 (from $2,805). Separately, a 19 September 2025 presidential proclamation imposed a $100,000 fee on certain NEW H-1B petitions for beneficiaries abroad without a valid H-1B visa (filed on/after 21 September 2025); it does not replace the registration or I-129 fees, was upheld by a federal district court in December 2025 (appeal pending), and generally does not apply to in-US change-of-status petitions — confirm current applicability before relying on it. From FY2027, cap-subject H-1B registrations are selected by a wage-weighted process rather than a random lottery. Always cross-check on uscis.gov/g-1055.
Primary source
USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)
https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
Frequently asked questions
How much does the H-1B Specialty Occupation cost in government fees?
A single initial H-1B petition costs around $3,600 in USCIS filing fees for a standard employer, excluding premium processing and the separate consular visa fee. The worked example assumes initial h-1b, standard employer (>25 fte, not h-1b-dependent), no premium, totalling US$3,595. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
Fees were substantially restructured on 1 April 2024; premium processing then rose to $2,965 on 1 March 2026 (from $2,805). Separately, a 19 September 2025 presidential proclamation imposed a $100,000 fee on certain NEW H-1B petitions for beneficiaries abroad without a valid H-1B visa (filed on/after 21 September 2025); it does not replace the registration or I-129 fees, was upheld by a federal district court in December 2025 (appeal pending), and generally does not apply to in-US change-of-status petitions — confirm current applicability before relying on it. From FY2027, cap-subject H-1B registrations are selected by a wage-weighted process rather than a random lottery. Always cross-check on uscis.gov/g-1055.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
H-4 dependants pay a $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 fee is $205 each where applicable.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the H-1B Specialty Occupation.
Processing time
How long the H-1B Specialty Occupation takes from application to decision.
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Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.