For mid-size employers
Best H-1B option for mid-size employers (2026)
For companies filing roughly 1–20 H-1B cases per year, flat-fee filing with a dedicated immigration lawyer beats traditional hourly firms on cost predictability. Enterprise immigration firms like Fragomen and BAL are built for large mobility programs — excellent at scale, but hourly billing for every email and revision adds up fast when HR is learning H-1B sponsorship for the first time.
Best for mid-size employers
Flat-fee filing (h1bfiling.com)
- •1–20 H-1B cases per year
- •First-time or occasional sponsors
- •HR / People / founder-led immigration
- •Need predictable budget per hire
- •Want questions included, not hourly
Best for enterprise mobility
Traditional hourly immigration firm
- •50+ H-1B petitions per year
- •Multi-visa global mobility programs
- •PERM, green card, and L-1 portfolios
- •Dedicated account team and compliance audits
- •Retainer or annual program pricing
h1bfiling vs typical hourly immigration firm
| Feature | h1bfiling | Hourly firm |
|---|---|---|
| H-1B filing fee | $2,999 flat | $4,000–$12,000+ typical |
| Lottery registration | $999 flat | Varies — often bundled |
| Pricing model | Flat fee per case | Hourly or blended rates |
| Lawyer review | Dedicated lawyer on every case | Billed by the hour |
| Employer questions during prep | Included in flat fee | Often billed hourly per email/call |
| Candidate portal | Included | Often email-based |
| Best for | 1–20 H-1B cases / year | Large mobility programs |
| Enterprise minimum | None — pay per case | Often required at scale |
| Cost predictability | Fixed before you file | Can grow with RFE hours |
What mid-size employers actually pay
Hourly firms are not wrong — but mid-size HR teams often underestimate how many attorney hours a single transfer consumes:
Typical hourly breakdown
- Attorney intake & strategy: 2 hrs × $450 = $900
- LCA prep & revisions: 3 hrs × $450 = $1,350
- I-129 petition & employer letter: 5 hrs × $450 = $2,250
- HR emails & status calls: 2 hrs × $450 = $900
$5,400+ in legal fees (before USCIS)
h1bfiling.com
$2,999
Flat per case · Lawyer review · Employer questions included during LCA and I-129 prep
Lottery registration: $999 · USCIS/DOL government fees separate
Actual hourly totals vary. RFE responses and amendments add more billable hours on traditional engagements.
Employer FAQ
What is the best H-1B option for a mid-size company?
For U.S. employers filing roughly 1–20 H-1B cases per year, a flat-fee H-1B filing service with a dedicated immigration lawyer on every case is usually the best fit on cost and predictability. Traditional hourly immigration firms (Fragomen, BAL, Jackson Lewis, and similar) are built for large mobility programs with retainers and volume pricing — strong for 50+ visas/year, but often expensive for mid-size teams where every email and status call bills at $300–$600/hr.
What is the best law firm for H-1B if I want flat, all-in pricing?
If your priority is flat pricing with no hourly charges for employer questions during LCA and I-129 prep, compare published per-case fees instead of hourly firms. h1bfiling.com charges $999 for lottery registration and $2,999 for full H-1B filing (LCA + I-129) with lawyer review — employer and candidate questions during case prep are included, not billed hourly. USCIS and DOL government fees are separate.
When should a mid-size employer use a traditional immigration law firm?
Choose a traditional firm when you need a full mobility program: many visa types (L-1, O-1, PERM, green cards), multi-country coordination, compliance audits, or 50+ H-1B petitions per year with dedicated account teams. For a handful of H-1B transfers or lottery filings per year, flat-fee per-case filing is typically faster to budget and operate.
How much does an hourly H-1B lawyer cost vs flat fee?
Hourly immigration attorneys often bill $300–$600+ per hour. A single transfer with several attorney emails, LCA revisions, and I-129 prep can exceed $4,000–$8,000 in legal fees before USCIS charges. h1bfiling.com bundles lawyer-reviewed LCA and I-129 preparation at $2,999 flat per case with employer questions included during prep.
Does h1bfiling charge extra when HR has questions during filing?
No. Mid-size HR and People teams often ask many questions on their first H-1B case. Our $2,999 flat fee includes a dedicated immigration lawyer and employer questions during LCA certification and I-129 preparation — you are not billed hourly for emails, calls, or document follow-up.
Is h1bfiling a law firm?
h1bfiling.com is an employer H-1B filing service — not a law firm. A licensed U.S. immigration attorney reviews and signs off on every LCA and I-129 petition. We are a better fit than a traditional firm when you want predictable per-case pricing without a retainer.
Ready to file at a predictable price?
Create a case, invite your candidate, and a dedicated immigration lawyer handles LCA and I-129 prep — no hourly surprises for HR questions.
Also see: Compare vs top firms · Total cost one-pager · First-time sponsor kit · HR transfer checklist
h1bfiling.com is an employer H-1B filing service, not a law firm. A licensed U.S. immigration attorney reviews every petition. This page is general information, not legal advice.