If you are a non-US national applying for a US work visa, it will be important to understand the costs that will be incurred. The following guide looks at visa application fees, together with any other associated costs when applying for a visa to work in the USA on a temporary basis.
Section A: US work visa types
If you are a non-US national applying for a US work visa, it helps to be clear on categories before you budget for fees. Broadly, visas fall into two groups. Immigrant visas lead to permanent residence. Nonimmigrant visas allow time-limited permission for a specific purpose, including work. Your route determines eligibility, forms, costs and processing steps.
1. Petition vs non-petition routes
Most employment-based nonimmigrant categories are petition-based. A US employer sponsors the worker by filing Form I-129 with USCIS and, after approval, the worker applies for a visa at a US embassy or consulate. Some categories proceed without prior USCIS approval at certain posts, for example E-1/E-2 filings and TN for qualified Canadians and Mexicans, though procedures differ by location. Where a petition is required, no consular application should be made until USCIS has approved the petition.
2. Examples of nonimmigrant work categories
Nonimmigrant work visas cover different types of roles and business activity. Each has specific eligibility rules, evidence standards and conditions that apply to both the employer and the worker.
- L-1 visa for intracompany transfers
- H-1B for highly skilled specialty occupations
- I visa for members of the foreign press
- E-2 visa for investors and business owners
Other common categories include O-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability, P for athletes and entertainers, R-1 for religious workers and TN professionals under the USMCA. The right fit depends on the role, the employer’s structure and the worker’s background.
3. Business visitor activity vs work
Some short-term business activity does not require a petition-based work visa. The B-1 visa can be suitable for limited business purposes where the traveler is not eligible for visa-free travel. Permissible activities include attending meetings, negotiating contracts and attending conferences. Activities that amount to employment in the US are not permitted under B-1. If the activity involves productive work for a US entity, you should consider a petition-based category instead.
Section B: US work visa costs
Each US work visa has government filing fees and related costs that depend on the visa type, the employer’s size, and whether optional services such as Premium Processing are used. All figures below are current as of October 31, 2025. Fees can change without notice, so both employers and applicants should verify the latest rates before filing or scheduling any appointment.
1. Nonimmigrant visa (MRV) fees
The Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee is the standard consular application charge. It is paid through the online appointment system when scheduling an interview and is required for each applicant. MRV fees are non-refundable and generally valid for one application within 12 months of payment.
| Visa Type | Description | MRV Fee (USD) |
| B | Business/Tourist | $185 |
| C-1 | Transit | $185 |
| D | Ship or Airline Crew | $185 |
| E | Treaty Trader, Treaty Investor, Australian Specialty Occupation (E-1, E-2, E-3) | $315 |
| F | Student (academic) | $185 |
| H | Temporary and Seasonal Workers, Trainees | $205 |
| I | Journalist and Media | $185 |
| J | Exchange Visitor | $185 |
| K | Fiancé(e) or Spouse of US Citizen | $265 |
| L | Intracompany Transferee | $205 |
| M | Student (vocational) | $185 |
| O | Persons with Extraordinary Ability | $205 |
| P | Athletes, Artists and Entertainers | $205 |
| Q | International Cultural Exchange | $205 |
| R | Religious Worker | $205 |
| T | Victim of Human Trafficking | $185 |
| U | Victim of Criminal Activity | $185 |
| TN/TD | USMCA Professionals (Canadian or Mexican) | $185 |
The MRV fee is payable per person for each application. It covers the consular interview and processing only. It does not include the cost of any petition filing, visa issuance, or delivery fees. Where a family applies together, each member pays the relevant MRV amount.
2. E-visa filing fees
Only a small number of nonimmigrant categories allow paid work in the US without prior employer petition approval. These include the E-1 Treaty Trader, E-2 Treaty Investor, and E-3 Specialty Occupation Professional visas. The consular filing fee for all E-classifications is $315.
For E-1 and E-2, applicants may apply directly at a US consulate without an I-129 petition, though supporting documentation to show treaty nationality, ownership or trade must be extensive. E-3 applicants rely on a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) similar to H-1B workers and generally file through consular processing rather than USCIS.
3. Visa issuance (reciprocity) fees
After approval, some nationalities pay an additional issuance or “reciprocity” fee before the visa is placed in the passport. The amount depends on the applicant’s nationality and the visa type. It mirrors the fees that the applicant’s country charges to US citizens for similar services. Reciprocity rates change regularly, so it is important to check the live reciprocity schedule on the Department of State website before interview. Payment methods vary by consulate and are displayed during scheduling.
4. Petition-based USCIS filing fees
Where a petition-based work visa is required, the employer files the petition with USCIS and pays the related government fees. These differ by visa type and employer size. The table below shows current and increased fees following the April 2024 USCIS fee schedule changes.
| Form / Visa Category | Filing by | Current Fee | Fee |
| I-129 H-1B visa | Small employers and nonprofits All other employers | $460 $460 | $460 $780 |
| I-129 L visa | Small employers and nonprofits All other employers | $460 $460 | $695 $1,385 |
| I-129 O visa | Small employers and nonprofits All other employers | $460 $460 | $530 $1,055 |
| I-129 (E, H-3, P, Q, R, TN) | Small employers and nonprofits All other employers | $460 $460 | $510 $1,015 |
| I-140 Immigrant Petition | All employers | $700 | $715 |
| I-539 Change or Extend Status | Online Paper | $370 $370 | $420 $470 |
| I-765 Employment Authorization | Online Paper | $410 $410 | $470 $520 |
Small employers are defined as those with 25 or fewer full-time employees in the United States. Nonprofit organizations qualify for reduced rates. The petition fee is separate from all other surcharges and optional services such as Premium Processing.
Section C: Additional employer-paid fees
For petition-based categories such as H-1B and L-1, employers are responsible for several additional government fees beyond the base I-129 filing charge. These payments fund specific USCIS and Department of Labor programs and apply only in certain circumstances. Failing to include the correct amounts can result in petition rejection or later compliance risk.
1. Mandatory surcharges
The Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee is $500 for all initial and change-of-employer petitions in the H-1B and L-1 categories. It helps USCIS and the State Department fund anti-fraud programs and is required even when Premium Processing is also used. For blanket L petitions filed under Form I-129S, the $500 fee is paid at the consulate when submitting the application.
Employers with 50 or more US employees, where more than half are in H-1B or L-1 status, must pay an additional surcharge under Public Law 114-113. The amount is $4,000 for H-1B petitions and $4,500 for L-1 petitions. This surcharge applies to new petitions and changes of employer, but not to extensions with the same sponsor.
H-1B employers also pay the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) training fee of either $1,500 or $750, depending on headcount. The lower rate applies to organizations with 25 or fewer full-time employees in the United States. This fee supports US worker training and cannot be charged back to the employee under any circumstance.
2. New USCIS Asylum Program Fee
Since April 1, 2024, USCIS has imposed an additional Asylum Program Fee on every employer filing Form I-129 or I-140. The standard fee is $600 per petition. Small employers with 25 or fewer full-time staff pay $300, and nonprofit organizations are exempt. The charge is not optional and applies in addition to all other USCIS fees.
3. Premium Processing
Premium Processing is an optional service that expedites USCIS action on qualifying petitions and applications. The current fee is $2,805 for most I-129 and I-140 filings. For certain I-539 and I-765 categories, lower Premium Processing fees of $1,965 or $1,685 apply. Premium Processing shortens USCIS action time to 15 calendar days for most petitions. It does not guarantee approval but provides a defined response timeframe, either an approval, a request for evidence, or a denial.
4. H-1B cap registration and proclamation fees
For H-1B employers, the cap registration process carries a fee of $215 per beneficiary starting with the FY2026 cap season (March 2025 registration period). Each registration is tied to a single worker, and multiple registrations for the same person are prohibited.
In September 2025, a Presidential Proclamation introduced an additional $100,000 supplemental payment for new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025. Current guidance indicates this applies only to new filings, not same-employer extensions, and the measure is facing legal challenge. Employers should monitor official USCIS and White House updates before budgeting or submitting filings under the proclamation.
5. Who pays which fees
The law requires certain costs to be borne by the employer, not the foreign worker. The table below summarizes who pays each of the main government charges for the most common petition-based visas.
| Fee Type | Typical Amount (USD) | Payer | When It Applies |
| Form I-129 filing fee | $510–$1,385 | Employer | All petition-based filings |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee | $500 | Employer | Initial or change-of-employer H-1B or L-1 petitions |
| ACWIA training fee | $750 or $1,500 | Employer | H-1B petitions only |
| Public Law 114-113 surcharge | $4,000 (H-1B), $4,500 (L-1) | Employer | Large employers with over 50% of US staff in H-1B/L-1 status |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 ($300 small employer) | Employer | All I-129 and I-140 filings |
| Premium Processing (optional) | $2,805 | Employer or applicant | Optional expedited service |
| MRV fee | $185–$315 | Applicant | Consular visa application |
| Reciprocity (issuance) fee | Varies by nationality | Applicant | Consular issuance stage if applicable |
| H-1B registration fee | $215 | Employer | Per beneficiary during cap registration |
| H-1B proclamation fee | $100,000 | Employer | New H-1B petitions from Sept 21, 2025 (subject to litigation) |
Employers should keep accurate fee records for compliance purposes and never seek reimbursement for any employer-only government charge from the sponsored worker. Doing so can lead to findings of wage violations or petition revocation during audits.
Section D: Visa fee exemptions and payment rules
Nonimmigrant visa processing fees are generally payable by every applicant, regardless of whether the visa is issued or refused. The MRV fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, and the same principle applies to most other government charges. However, specific exemptions are provided by law for defined categories of travelers.
1. Visa fee exemptions
The following categories are exempt from paying the standard MRV fee:
- Diplomatic passport holders applying for A visas
- Official passport holders applying for official service visas
- Employees of designated international organizations applying for G visas
- Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States applying for NATO visas
- Applicants replacing a machine-readable visa that was issued incorrectly or damaged through no fault of their own
In limited situations, reciprocity or issuance fees may also be waived when a country has agreed to do so on a bilateral basis. Each post applies exemptions according to Department of State policy and local reciprocity arrangements. Applicants should always verify whether any exemption applies before scheduling an appointment.
2. Validity and rescheduling rules
The MRV payment is valid for one visa application and one interview scheduling attempt within 12 months of the payment date. If an applicant cancels or misses the appointment, they can reschedule once within that same 12-month window without paying again, provided the same MRV receipt number is used. After 12 months, any unused payment expires, and a new fee is required to book another interview.
Payment methods vary by country. Most US consulates accept debit or credit card payments through the official visa scheduling portal, but some still accept bank transfers or local currency cash deposits through authorized collection partners. Applicants should only use instructions from the official US Travel Docs website for their country of residence.
3. Refund and transfer restrictions
Visa fees are tied to the individual applicant and cannot be transferred to another person or used for a different visa class. Refunds are rarely granted, except where payment was made in error and no appointment was scheduled. For petition-based filings, USCIS will reject and return any petition submitted with incorrect payment amounts, which can cause time-sensitive applications to miss filing deadlines or quota caps.
Employers should check the current USCIS fee schedule and the Department of State visa fee page immediately before preparing payment. Both agencies update fees periodically, and incorrect remittance is one of the most common filing errors seen in work visa petitions.
Section E: Summary
US work visa costs fall into three buckets. First, consular fees paid by the applicant, which include the MRV fee and any country-specific reciprocity charge. Second, USCIS petition fees paid by the employer, which include the base I-129 amount, Fraud Prevention and Detection, ACWIA where applicable, the Asylum Program Fee, and in some cases the PL 114-113 surcharge for H-1B and L-1. Third, optional services such as Premium Processing. For H-1B, factor in the $215 cap registration and, for new petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, the $100,000 proclamation payment, noting ongoing legal challenges. Always verify fee levels at the point of payment and keep complete records.
Section F: Need assistance?
NNU Immigration are dedicated US immigration attorneys. We support employers, entrepreneurs and key personnel with all aspects of US immigration applications, including eligibility requirements, petitioning procedures and costs of US work visa applications. If you require support or guidance on a visa application, contact us.
NNU Immigration advises employers, entrepreneurs and key personnel on US work visas, including fee planning, petition strategy and consular processing. If you would like support with eligibility, filings or budgeting for government charges, contact us to speak with an attorney.
Section G: FAQs
Who pays which H-1B and L-1 fees?
Employers pay the I-129 base fee, the $500 Fraud fee, ACWIA ($750 or $1,500) for H-1B, the Asylum Program Fee, and the PL 114-113 surcharge where it applies. Applicants pay MRV and any reciprocity fee. Premium Processing can be paid by either party. Keep proof of who paid what.
What is the current E-visa consular fee?
The E-1, E-2 and E-3 MRV fee is $315 per applicant. Additional reciprocity fees may apply by nationality and visa class.
How long does Premium Processing take and what does it cost?
Premium Processing provides a 15-calendar-day USCIS action window for most I-129 and I-140 filings. The fee is $2,805 for those categories. Different Premium Processing timelines and fees apply to certain I-539 and I-765 filings.
What is the H-1B cap registration fee and when is it paid?
The H-1B cap registration fee is $215 per beneficiary. It is paid by the employer during the registration window for the fiscal year’s lottery.
Do all applicants pay a reciprocity fee?
Reciprocity fees depend on nationality and visa class. Some nationalities pay no issuance fee while others pay a set amount. Always check the live reciprocity schedule before interview.
How is a “small employer” defined for reduced USCIS fees?
Small employers have 25 or fewer full-time employees in the United States. Nonprofits also benefit from reduced rates under the USCIS fee schedule.
When does the PL 114-113 surcharge apply?
It applies to employers with 50 or more US employees where more than 50 percent are in H-1B or L-1 status. The amount is $4,000 for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1. It applies to new filings and changes of employer, not to extensions with the same sponsor.
What is the $100,000 H-1B proclamation payment?
For new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, a Presidential Proclamation requires a $100,000 supplemental payment. Current agency guidance indicates same-employer extensions are not covered. Litigation and further guidance are in progress, so employers should check for updates before filing.
Are MRV fees refundable if a visa is refused or plans change?
MRV fees are non-refundable and tied to the individual and visa class. They are generally valid for one application and interview scheduling within 12 months of payment.
What do dependants pay?
Dependants pay their own MRV fee and any reciprocity fee. For in-US changes or extensions, I-539 fees apply. Some categories allow Premium Processing for the principal only, which does not speed consular steps for family members.
Section H: Glossary
| Term | Definition |
| MRV fee | The consular Machine-Readable Visa application charge paid per applicant when scheduling an interview. |
| Reciprocity fee | An additional visa issuance fee based on the applicant’s nationality and visa class, reflecting bilateral arrangements. |
| Form I-129 | USCIS petition for a nonimmigrant worker used by employers to sponsor many work visa categories. |
| Form I-140 | USCIS immigrant petition for a worker seeking permanent residence through employment. |
| ACWIA fee | Training fee that H-1B employers pay to fund US workforce training programs. Amount depends on employer size. |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee | $500 fee for initial and change-of-employer H-1B and L-1 filings to fund anti-fraud programs. |
| PL 114-113 surcharge | Additional surcharge for certain H-1B and L-1 filings by employers with a high proportion of H-1B/L-1 workers. |
| Asylum Program Fee | Supplement charged on employer I-129 and I-140 filings to support asylum program operations. Reduced for small employers, exempt for nonprofits. |
| Premium Processing | Optional service that provides expedited USCIS action within a published timeframe for an additional fee. |
| USMCA TN | Professional work status for qualified Canadian and Mexican nationals under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. |
| Blanket L | Preapproved framework that allows eligible multinational employers to transfer qualified staff to the United States without filing individual I-129 petitions. |
| H-1B cap registration | Online pre-filing step with a per-beneficiary fee for employers seeking to enter the H-1B lottery. |
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.