United States of America
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement: government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
An O-1 petition typically costs $1,655 in government fees for a standard employer — materially cheaper than H-1B because there are no registration, ACWIA, or Fraud Prevention fees.
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 O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement cost in United States?
An O-1 petition typically costs $1,655 in government fees for a standard employer — materially cheaper than H-1B because there are no registration, ACWIA, or Fraud Prevention fees.
Verified against USCIS — O-1 Visa Fees on 1 June 2026.
Headline total
US$1,655
Single initial O-1, standard employer, no premium
Currency
USD (United States dollar)
Last checked
1 June 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
I-129 filing fee Small employers (25 or fewer FTE) pay $530. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review). | US$1,055 | Yes |
Asylum Program Fee Non-profits $0, small employers $300. Confirmed against the USCIS G-1055 fee schedule (PDF-backed; manual review). | US$600 | Yes |
Premium Processing (optional) 15-business-day adjudicative action target. | US$2,965 | Optional |
DS-160 / consular visa fee (applying from abroad) | US$205 | Optional |
Worked example
Single initial O-1, standard employer, no premium — US$1,655
- $1,055 I-129
- $600 Asylum Program Fee
How to read these fees
The US$1,655 headline covers single initial O-1, standard employer, no premium. Of the 4 components listed above, 2 are mandatory and 2 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is I-129 filing fee at US$1,055.
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
O-3 dependants pay $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 is $205 per dependant where applicable.
Why fees change
Fees last changed 1 April 2024. O-1 is not subject to the H-1B registration lottery, and premium processing is available year-round.
Primary source
USCIS — O-1 Visa Fees
https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
Frequently asked questions
How much does the O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement cost in government fees?
An O-1 petition typically costs $1,655 in government fees for a standard employer — materially cheaper than H-1B because there are no registration, ACWIA, or Fraud Prevention fees. The worked example assumes single initial o-1, standard employer, no premium, totalling US$1,655. 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 last changed 1 April 2024. O-1 is not subject to the H-1B registration lottery, and premium processing is available year-round.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
O-3 dependants pay $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 is $205 per dependant where applicable.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement.
Processing time
How long the O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement takes from application to decision.
Compare: H-1B Specialty Occupation fees
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Compare: EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant) fees
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
Compare: EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) fees
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.