Are there additional fees if a company has many H-1B or L-1 visa holders?

Yes, companies with a significant share of H-1B or L-1 holders in their workforce may be subject to an additional fee when filing petitions. The surcharge is tied to the composition of the workforce, not to any single visa case in isolation.

The rationale behind this rule is to balance the use of foreign labor and encourage fair practices in the labor market. When the proportion of workers under these visas exceeds a certain threshold, the employer becomes responsible for this extra cost on top of the standard filing fees.

• The additional fee depends on the composition of the workforce, not on the individual applicant’s qualifications.
• It may apply to both H-1B and L-1 cases, depending on the company’s staffing structure.
• The criteria and amounts are set by law and are subject to change.

Because the exact thresholds, amounts, and conditions are updated periodically, avoid relying on figures from memory. The best approach is to confirm the current amounts and criteria directly with USCIS or with an immigration professional before estimating costs.

About the author

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.