Estimate total work permit and visa costs including filing fees, attorney fees, premium processing, and dependent applications for H-1B, L-1, O-1, and other US work visas.
Work visa and permit costs add up quickly — USCIS filing fees, fraud prevention fees, attorney fees, medical exams, and premium processing can total $5,000-$15,000+ for a single petition. The Work Permit Cost Calculator provides a comprehensive estimate for all major US work visa categories, helping employers budget for sponsorship and employees understand the true cost of immigration.
The US work visa system involves multiple fee components that vary by visa type, employer size, and processing preference. An H-1B petition for a small company costs around $1,710 in government fees alone; for a large company, it's $4,710. Add attorney fees ($2,000-$5,000), premium processing ($2,805 if needed), and dependent applications, and the total easily exceeds $10,000.
This calculator covers H-1B, H-1B1, L-1A/B, O-1, TN, E-1/E-2, and other common work permit categories. It itemizes every fee component, accounts for employer size (which affects ACWIA fees), includes dependent petition costs, and estimates total employer vs. employee costs — critical information for both HR departments and prospective employees.
Use this calculator when you need a fuller estimate than the headline filing fee alone, including optional processing, legal fees, and dependent applications. It is useful for sponsorship budgeting, offer planning, and comparing the likely cost profile of different visa categories. It also helps surface costs that are often missed in early planning.
Total Cost = I-129 Filing Fee + ACWIA Fee + Fraud Prevention Fee + Premium Processing (optional) + Attorney Fees + Dependent I-539 Fees. ACWIA Fee: $750 (1-25 employees) or $1,500 (26+). Fraud Prevention: $500 (H-1B/L-1). Asylum Fee: $600 (H-1B/L-1, 26+ employees).
Result: Total: $12,685 (Government: $8,535 + Attorney: $3,500 + Dependent: $650)
For a large employer filing an H-1B with premium processing and one dependent: I-129 ($780) + ACWIA ($1,500) + Fraud ($500) + Asylum ($600) + Premium ($2,805) + Public Law 114-113 ($4,000) = $10,185 in govt fees, plus $3,500 attorney, plus $650 for dependent I-539 filing.
USCIS fees for work visas include several components that confuse even experienced HR managers. The I-129 base filing fee ($780 for most categories) covers USCIS adjudication. The ACWIA (American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act) training fee ($750 or $1,500) funds worker training programs. The fraud prevention and detection fee ($500) finances anti-fraud operations.
The Asylum Program Fee ($600 for employers with 26+ employees) was introduced to fund the asylum adjudication backlog. The Public Law 114-113 fee ($4,000 or $4,500) applies specifically to H-1B dependent and willful violator employers. Premium processing ($2,805) is optional but increasingly standard due to normal processing delays of 6-12 months.
H-1B is typically the most expensive common work visa due to multiple surcharges. L-1 intracompany transferee petitions cost less in government fees but often have higher attorney fees due to specialized knowledge documentation. O-1 extraordinary ability visas have the lowest government fees ($780 + $2,805 premium) but the highest attorney fees ($5,000-10,000+) because of extensive evidence portfolios required.
TN (NAFTA/USMCA) is the most cost-effective: $460 at the border or $780 if filed via I-129, with minimal attorney fees ($500-1,500). E-1/E-2 treaty visas require consular processing with different fee structures — $205 application fee plus $160 DS-160 fee, but no ACWIA or fraud fees.
For companies sponsoring multiple employees, create an annual immigration budget with: initial petition costs, extension costs (every 1-3 years), amendment costs for job changes, green card costs (PERM + I-140 + I-485), and a contingency buffer (20-30%). Track cost per hire including immigration to compare with domestic hiring costs. Many companies find that total immigration cost ($15,000-$30,000 over a visa lifecycle) is far less than the cost of leaving a skilled position unfilled.
By law, the employer must pay the I-129 filing fee, ACWIA training fee, and fraud prevention fee. The employee may pay premium processing (if for their benefit), attorney fees for personal matters, and dependent application fees. In practice, many employers cover all costs as part of the offer.
USCIS Premium Processing ($2,805 for I-129) guarantees a response within 15 business days — either approval, denial, RFE, or NOID. Without it, processing takes 3-8 months. Premium processing can be requested by the employer or employee and is available for most employment-based petitions.
Companies with 26+ employees pay the full ACWIA training fee ($1,500 vs. $750) and the Asylum Program Fee ($600). H-1B dependent employers (15%+ H-1B workforce) pay an additional $4,000 per petition under Public Law 114-113. These fees fund training programs and asylum operations.
Attorney fees vary widely: H-1B: $2,000-$5,000, L-1: $3,000-$7,000, O-1: $5,000-$10,000 (extensive evidence portfolio). EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 green cards: $5,000-$15,000 for the full PERM-I-140-AOS process. Fees depend on complexity, location, and firm prestige.
For a large employer with premium processing: registration ($215) + I-129 ($780) + ACWIA ($1,500) + fraud ($500) + asylum ($600) + premium ($2,805) + attorney ($3,000-5,000) = roughly $9,400-$11,400. Add $4,000 if H-1B dependent employer. Doesn't include any subsequent green card filing.
For employers, all sponsorship costs are business expenses. For employees, immigration fees are generally NOT deductible as unreimbursed employee expenses since the 2017 tax reform (TCJA). Some self-employed individuals or those with Schedule C income may deduct work-related immigration expenses.