The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant increase in fees for several key work visa categories, including the popular H-1B. The new fee structure is set to take effect from March 1, 2025, impacting thousands of Indian professionals and companies sponsoring foreign talent.
Detailed Breakdown of the New Visa Fees
The final rule published by the US Department of Homeland Security outlines revised fees for a range of immigration and naturalization benefit requests. The most notable changes affect employment-based petitions. The filing fee for Form I-129, used for H-1B, L-1, and other nonimmigrant worker petitions, will see a substantial jump. The fee for H-1B registration will also increase, adding to the overall cost for employers seeking specialized foreign workers.
For the H-1B visa program, specifically, the cost to file Form I-129 will rise. Additionally, the mandatory Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee for initial H-1B petitions remains, but the base filing fee is increasing. The rule also modifies fees for other categories like L-1 (intra-company transferee) and O-1 (extraordinary ability) visas. USCIS states these adjustments are necessary to recover the full cost of its operations and to fund the Asylum Program Fee, a new charge for employers filing certain petitions.
Impact on Indian Professionals and Companies
This fee hike will have a direct and considerable financial impact on both Indian nationals seeking employment in the US and the companies, including many Indian IT firms, that hire them. The increased costs add another layer of expense to the already complex and competitive H-1B process. For individual applicants, while the employer typically bears the petition costs, these increases could influence hiring decisions and make companies more selective.
The move comes at a time when the demand for H-1B visas from Indian tech professionals remains exceptionally high. The new fee structure means that the total cost of sponsoring an employee for an H-1B visa will be significantly higher from March 1, 2025. Companies will need to budget for these increased expenses for both new hires and extensions. Experts suggest this could lead to a more strategic approach to overseas hiring, with firms potentially exploring alternative visa routes or increasing local hiring in the US.
What Applicants and Employers Need to Know
It is crucial for all stakeholders to note the effective date. Any petition postmarked on or after March 1, 2025, must include the new, higher fees. USCIS will reject filings with the old fee amounts after this deadline. Employers and legal teams are advised to start planning for these changes immediately, especially for filings expected around the H-1B cap season for Fiscal Year 2026.
The final rule is part of USCIS's broader effort to ensure its funding is sufficient to process applications efficiently. However, for the Indian diaspora and the business community, it represents an increased cost of accessing American opportunities. Professionals considering a move to the US or companies planning to transfer employees should factor in these revised financial requirements into their timelines and budgets for the coming year.
