Every fee, from registration to approval. A transparent guide to what H-1B sponsorship actually costs employers and workers in 2026.
H-1B sponsorship costs between $5,000 and $20,000+ depending on company size, attorney fees, and whether premium processing is used. Understanding these costs is critical for both employers evaluating whether to sponsor and workers who want to have an informed conversation with hiring managers. This guide breaks down every fee involved in the 2026 H-1B process.
| Company | Total H-1B Filings |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 |
| Microsoft | 34,626 |
| 33,416 | |
| Infosys | 32,840 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | 28,950 |
| Cognizant | 26,700 |
| Deloitte | 18,200 |
| Apple | 15,800 |
| Meta | 14,900 |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 |
1. H-1B Registration Fee: $10 — Required for each beneficiary entered in the annual lottery. Non-refundable. Paid during the registration period (typically March).
2. Base Filing Fee (Form I-129): $1,710 — The standard USCIS petition filing fee for all H-1B petitions, including new, transfer, and extension filings.
3. ACWIA Training Fee: $750 or $1,500 — Companies with 25 or fewer full-time employees pay $750. Companies with 26+ employees pay $1,500. Cap-exempt nonprofit research organizations and government entities are exempt from this fee.
4. Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee: $500 — Required for all initial H-1B petitions and change-of-employer petitions. Not required for extensions with the same employer.
5. Public Law 114-113 Fee: $4,000 — Required for employers with 50+ employees where more than 50% are on H-1B or L-1 visas. Primarily affects large IT consulting/outsourcing firms. Most employers are exempt.
6. Asylum Program Fee: $600 — Required for companies with 26+ employees. Small employers (25 or fewer) pay $300. Nonprofits are exempt.
7. Premium Processing Fee: $2,805 (optional) — Guarantees USCIS response within 15 business days. Highly recommended for cap-subject petitions and transfers. The employee can pay this fee (it's the only fee they're legally allowed to pay).
8. Attorney Fees: $2,000–$7,000 — Most employers hire immigration attorneys to prepare and file the petition. Small company filings at the lower end; complex cases with RFE risk at the higher end.
A: No. Federal regulations prohibit employers from passing mandatory H-1B filing fees (base fee, ACWIA fee, fraud prevention fee) to the worker. The only fee an employee may voluntarily pay is the premium processing fee. Violations can result in penalties and back-pay orders from the Department of Labor.
Q: How do H-1B costs compare to hiring a domestic worker?
A: H-1B sponsorship adds $5,000–$16,000+ in one-time costs per hire, plus potential renewal costs every 3 years. For highly specialized roles where qualified domestic candidates are scarce, this cost is easily justified by the value of the hire. Many employers view it as a recruitment investment comparable to a signing bonus or relocation package.
Use Wisa's free search to find companies with active H-1B filing histories. Employers who sponsor regularly have established processes and budgets for visa costs. Search H-1B sponsors on Wisa →
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Total H-1B sponsorship costs in 2026 range from approximately $5,000 for small companies without premium processing to $16,000+ for large H-1B-dependent employers with premium processing. Key fees include: $1,710 base filing fee, $750-$1,500 ACWIA fee, $500 fraud prevention fee, $300-$600 asylum fee, optional $2,805 premium processing, and $2,000-$7,000 in attorney fees.
No. Federal law prohibits employers from passing mandatory H-1B filing fees to the worker, including the base filing fee, ACWIA training fee, and fraud prevention fee. The only fee an employee may voluntarily choose to pay is the $2,805 premium processing fee. Employers who violate this rule face DOL penalties and back-pay orders.
For most petitions, yes. Premium processing costs $2,805 and guarantees a USCIS response within 15 business days versus 3-6 months for regular processing. For cap-subject petitions and transfers where timing matters, premium processing significantly reduces uncertainty. The employee is legally allowed to pay this fee if the employer declines.
Not annually, but they do recur. An initial H-1B petition is valid for up to 3 years. Extension petitions (another 3 years) require new filing fees, though some fees like the fraud prevention fee are not required for same-employer extensions. Attorney fees for extensions are typically lower ($1,500-$3,000) since the case is established.