H-1B Visa Cost in 2026 — Full Fee Breakdown for Employers

Government fees alone typically run about $2,000 to $9,000 depending on employer size, whether premium processing is on, and whether Public Law 114-113 applies. Attorney or filing-service fees usually add $3,000 to $5,500. A typical small-employer H-1B lands around $7,000–$9,000 all-in without premium. A larger employer with premium processing often lands closer to $10,500–$15,000. This guide breaks every line item so HR can budget before the offer letter goes out.

2026 USCIS H-1B fee table (small vs large employer)

“Small” here means 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in the United States. Confirm the current USCIS fee schedule before you file — amounts below reflect the post–April 2024 fee rule and the March 1, 2026 premium processing update.

Small-employer mandatory stack (no premium, no 114-113): roughly $215 registration (if cap) + $460 + $750 + $500 + $300 ≈ $2,225 government before counsel. Standard employer stack: ≈ $215 + $780 + $1,500 + $500 + $600 ≈ $3,595. Universities and qualifying nonprofit research organizations often skip ACWIA and asylum program fees — confirm exemption before budgeting.

Attorney and filing-service fees

Most companies use outside counsel or a specialist filing service. Typical flat attorney fees for a new H-1B petition run $3,000–$5,500. Transfers and extensions often land $3,000–$4,500. Many firms bill RFE responses separately at $1,000–$5,000+. On h1bfiling.com, full LCA + I-129 prep is $2,999 flat, and attorney work to respond if USCIS issues an RFE is included in that filing fee — government fees stay separate.

Who pays — employer vs employee

• ACWIA, fraud prevention, and (in most cases) base filing and asylum program fees must be paid by the employer and cannot be passed to the H-1B worker.
• Premium processing may be paid by either party when the upgrade is for the worker’s benefit — confirm with counsel.
• H-4 dependent filings (I-539 / I-765) are typically beneficiary-side costs unless the employer chooses to cover them.
• Passing prohibited fees to the employee can create DOL and USCIS compliance risk.

RFE response costs

There is no separate USCIS filing fee for an RFE response. The cost is attorney time. Hourly firms often add $1,000–$5,000+ when an RFE lands. That is why “flat fee” quotes that exclude RFE work are not fully predictable. h1bfiling.com includes attorney work to respond to an RFE in the $2,999 filing fee. Premium processing clocks pause (then restart) around RFE responses — see our RFE guides linked below.

How to estimate your exact total

• Use the free H-1B cost calculator for size, nonprofit status, premium, and 114-113 toggles
• Add lottery registration only for first-time cap-subject cases
• Budget premium only when start-date risk justifies the $2,965
• Confirm whether your counsel includes RFE response before you compare quotes