Business Immigration · H-1B
H‑1B registrations, petitions, transfers and extensions, with every fee itemized
The H-1B is the main U.S. work visa for specialty occupations: jobs that normally require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Cap-subject employers first register in the annual selection, then file a full petition if selected. The fee picture has changed several times recently, so we confirm every item against the live USCIS fee schedule on the day we file and list each one separately in your engagement letter.
What our H-1B service covers
- A specialty-occupation review of the job and the worker's degree.
- Registration in the annual selection (cap cases).
- The Labor Condition Application filed with the Department of Labor, and the public access file.
- Form I-129 with the H supplement, a petition letter, and any premium-processing request.
- RFE responses within scope.
- Extensions, amendments and transfers (scoped separately).
Registration and the annual selection
The statute caps new H-1Bs at 65,000 a year, plus 20,000 for holders of U.S. master's or higher degrees. Cap-subject employers submit an electronic registration for each worker during the registration period, and USCIS selects registrations under its current selection rules. Only selected registrations can be filed as petitions, within the filing window USCIS announces. Check uscis.gov for the current season's dates.
What makes a job a specialty occupation
Under 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(4)), the position must normally require a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific specialty, and the worker must hold that degree, an equivalent, or equivalent experience. Generic degree requirements ("any bachelor's") invite RFEs. We tie the duties to a specific field of study and document it.
Petition fees
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration (cap cases) | $215 per beneficiary | Per registration |
| Form I-129, H-1B | $780 (paper) / $730 (online) | $460 for small employers and nonprofits |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 / $300 (small employer or self-petitioner) | Standard / small employer; nonprofits exempt |
| ACWIA training fee | $1,500 or $750 | Amount depends on employer size; some employers exempt |
| Fraud prevention and detection fee | $500 | Initial petitions and change of employer |
| Premium processing, optional | $2,965 | Form I-907 |
Government fees as of Oct. 24, 2026, from USCIS Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26. Confirm before filing.
Certain new H-1B petitions may also be subject to a separate Presidential Proclamation payment; whether it applies to your case is confirmed at intake against the current USCIS fee schedule (G-1055).
Large employers with many H-1B and L-1 workers may owe an additional statutory fee. We confirm whether it applies at intake. The ACWIA and fraud fees are employer costs. For processing times, see the USCIS processing-times tool.
Extensions, transfers and the six-year limit
- Transfers: a worker in H-1B status can usually start with a new employer once the new petition is filed (H-1B portability).
- Extensions are granted in increments of up to three years, to a usual maximum of six years.
- Beyond six years: an approved I-140, or a PERM or I-140 pending long enough, can allow extensions past six years. See I-140 after PERM.
- Amendments are needed for material changes, such as a new worksite outside the LCA's area.
Cap-exempt employers
Universities, their affiliated nonprofits, and nonprofit or government research organizations can file H-1Bs at any time without registration (8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(8))). Workers already counted against the cap in the last six years generally do not need a new registration.
If USCIS is slow or denies the H-1B
Specialty-occupation and employer-employee denials can be challenged by motion, AAO appeal or an APA suit, or cured on refiling. See H-1B denial options and I-129 RFEs by classification. For delays, see USCIS delay lawsuits. If the H-1B is not a fit, compare the O-1 and L-1.
Who handles your case
Immigration filings are prepared and signed by a licensed U.S. immigration attorney who works with DC Federal Litigation PLLC. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. If an agency delays or denies your case and federal court is the right next step, DC Federal Litigation PLLC handles the litigation.
DC Federal Litigation PLLC works from its Washington, DC office on the strategy and on any federal-court action. If the agency sits on your case or denies it on grounds the regulation does not support, the litigation stays with the firm. You are told in writing, before any work begins, who does what on your matter and how the fee is shared.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for an H-1B myself?
No. A U.S. employer files the registration and the petition. Founders can be sponsored by their own company if it has a real employer-employee relationship with them, which is documented in the petition.
What if I am not selected in the lottery?
You can wait for the next season, work for a cap-exempt employer, or consider O-1, L-1, E-2 or another status that fits your profile. We review alternatives at intake.
Who pays the H-1B fees?
The employer must pay the ACWIA and fraud fees and the costs tied to the LCA. Who pays other items, such as premium processing for the worker's own convenience, depends on the circumstances and is set out in writing.
Is there a separate Presidential Proclamation payment for H-1B?
Certain new H-1B petitions may also be subject to a separate Presidential Proclamation payment. Whether it applies to your case is confirmed at intake against the current USCIS fee schedule (G-1055).
How long can I stay on an H-1B?
Usually up to six years in total, in increments of up to three years. Time beyond six years is possible with an approved I-140, or a PERM or I-140 that has been pending long enough.
Can I change employers?
Yes. The new employer files a new petition, and in most cases you can begin working once it is filed, if you are in valid H-1B status. Transfers do not need a new registration if you were already counted against the cap.
Get every H-1B fee and deadline in writing
Book a paid consultation for the employer or the worker. We review the job, the degree and the timeline. If you engage the firm within 30 days, your consultation fee is credited in full toward your initial retainer.