U.S. work permit (H‑1B visa) from India
Breakdown of H‑1B Visa Costs
1. USCIS Core Filing Fees (Paid by Employer)
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Registration fee: $215 (up from $10 in 2024)
Form I‑129 base filing fee: $460
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Fraud prevention fee: $500
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ACWIA training fee: $750 (small employers) or $1,500 (larger employers)
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Public Law 114‑113 fee: $4,000 (if employer has ≥50 employees with >50% on H‑1B/L‑1 visas)
Total core fees (employer-paid):
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Small employer: $215 + $460 + $500 + $750 = ≈ $1,925
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Large employer: Add $4,000 = ≈ $5,925
2. Premium Processing (Optional)
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Expedites adjudication within ~15 days for $2,805
Paid by employer or employee.
3. Attorney / Consultancy Fees
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Varies depending on complexity: $1,000–$3,000+
4. Visa Stamping & Related Costs (Typically Paid by Applicant)
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U.S. visa stamping fee (applicant pays): approximately $185 standard; H‑1B specifically: $190–$205
Travel, translation, document evaluation, and medical exam: $200–$700+
Estimated Total Cost Range
| Cost Category | Small Employer | Large Employer |
|---|---|---|
| Core USCIS Fees | ~$1,925 | ~$5,925 |
| Attorney Fees (employer) | +$1,000–3,000 | +$1,000–3,000 |
| Premium Processing (optional) | +$2,805 | +$2,805 |
| Applicant Expenses (stamp/eval) | ~$400–900 | ~$400–900 |
| Total Estimated (without premium) | $3,325–5,825 | $7,325–9,825 |
| With premium | $6,130–8,630 | $10,130–12,630 |
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Employer must pay registration, base, fraud, ACWIA, and P.L. fees
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Premium processing can be paid by either party.
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Attorney/legal fees often covered by employer; sometimes split.
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Stamping, travel, and local expenses are typically borne by the employee
Recent Changes & Context
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H‑1B registration fee jumped from $10 to $215 as of April 2024
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Overall registrations declined by ~27% in FY2026—driven by fee hikes and stricter policies
Summary
Obtaining a U.S. work permit (H‑1B) from India involves various fees, largely employer-funded, with optional costs for expedited service:
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Baseline total cost: ~$3,300–6,000 for smaller companies, or ~$7,300–9,800 for larger ones.
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With Premium Processing: add ~$2,805.
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Applicant out-of-pocket: ~$600–1,000 for stamping, travel, medical, etc.
Need help navigating this process? I can draft:
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A detailed checklist of all fees and documents.
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Cost comparison visual template.
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SEO-optimized article or email sequence to target IT professionals.
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