What is the ‘return transportation fee’?

The ‘return transportation fee’ is an obligation, established under U.S. regulations, requiring the employer to cover the cost of return transportation for the worker to their home country when the H-1B employment relationship is terminated before the agreed end date.

In practice, this typically corresponds to the reasonable cost of the return trip (generally an airline ticket), so the professional can travel back if the job ends early. The intent is to protect the worker from being left without support in the event of an unexpected dismissal during their stay in the United States.

• Applies when the employer terminates the employment before the expected end date.
• Covers the reasonable cost of return transportation to the home country.
• It is a worker protection, not an automatic benefit upon any departure.

The conditions and limits of this obligation follow the rules of the U.S. Department of Labor and other authorities, and may vary depending on the circumstances. To understand how it applies to your situation, confirm with the official source or a qualified professional.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.