USCIS Immigration Fee Changes: Key Updates for Employers
March 3, 2024
USCIS has announced a major overhaul of its immigration filing fees, effective April 1, 2024. These changes significantly impact employment-based petitions, with the greatest increases affecting large employers and for-profit organizations.
If you’re planning to file, it is strongly advised that USCIS receives your application by March 29, 2024 to take advantage of the current (lower) fees.
💼 Fee Increases for Employers
USCIS is now applying different fee tiers based on the size and type of employer. A new Asylum Program Fee has been introduced for most employment-based petitions.
🔹 Employers with 26 or More Employees (Large, For-Profit)
Type of Filing
Old Fee
New Fee
Increase
H-1B (New/Transfer/Extension)
$460
$780 + $600 = $1,380
+$920
L-1 Petition
$460
$1,385
+$925
I-140 Immigrant Petition
$700
$715 + $600 = $1,315
+$615
P-3 / R-1 Petition
$460
$780 + $600 = $1,380
+$920
🔹 Employers with 25 or Fewer Employees (Small, For-Profit)
Type of Filing
Old Fee
New Fee
Increase
H-1B (New/Transfer/Extension)
$460
$780 + $300 = $1,080
+$620
L-1 Petition
$460
$695
+$235
I-140 Immigrant Petition
$700
$715 + $300 = $1,015
+$315
P-3 / R-1 Petition
$460
$780 + $300 = $1,080
+$620
🔹 Nonprofit Organizations / Research Institutions
Type of Filing
New Fee
Asylum Fee
Total
H-1B / L-1 / P-3 / R-1
$780
$0
$780
I-140 Immigrant Petition
$715
$0
$715
📄 Other Filing Fee Updates
Form
Old Fee
New Fee
I-765 (EAD)
$410
$520 (paper) / $470 (online)
I-539 (H-4 / B-2 / F-1)
$370
$420 (paper and online)
I-485 (Green Card)
$1,225 (bundled)
$1,440 + separate EAD ($260) + AP ($630)
H-1B Registration
$10
$10 for FY2025; $215 starting FY2026
🔍 Premium Processing Fees (Effective February 26, 2024)
Form
Old Fee
New Fee
H-1B, L-1, O-1, P, etc.
$2,500
$2,805
I-140 (EB-1 / EB-2 NIW)
$2,500
$2,805
H-2B, R, etc.
$1,500
$1,685
⚠️ Why This Matters
The Asylum Program Fee adds $300–$600 to nearly all I-129 and I-140 filings, depending on employer size.
Nonprofits and qualifying educational/research institutions are exempt from this asylum surcharge.
EAD and Advance Parole fees are no longer bundled with I-485 applications, increasing total adjustment costs.
The H-1B registration fee will skyrocket to $215 starting with FY2026 (March 2025 lottery).
✅ Filing Recommendations
File before March 29, 2024 to avoid increased costs.
Determine your employer category (large, small, nonprofit) to calculate accurate filing fees.
Prepare for unbundled fees on green card applications (EAD/AP now separate).
For P-3 and R-1 petitions, nonprofits benefit from significant fee reductions by avoiding the asylum surcharge.
Vasanth Vaidyanathan is an immigration attorney with over 20 years of experience focused exclusively on U.S. immigration and nationality law. He holds a LL.M. from California Western School of Law, San Deigo and advises individuals and businesses on employment and family-based immigration matters, including H-1B, PERM, EB categories, and adjustment of status. He has also been a featured speaker at immigration seminars across the U.S. To reach Vasanth visit:
https://www.vnathan.com/
