Amid the ongoing debate over H-1B visas in the United States, potential applicants and their employers are facing complex costs associated with the coveted work permit starting in fiscal year 2025. The H-1B program allows US-based companies. Bring in skilled workers from abroad in some industries, but this involves hefty fees that vary depending on the type of petition being filed and the employer’s status.
Additionally, a new rule also came into effect in 2025 that will allow entrepreneurs to sponsor themselves for H1B visas. This means that entrepreneurs setting up a tech company in the US can be self-sponsored, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the visa, such as having specialized knowledge.
Until now, individuals were not considered eligible for an H-1B visa unless they could demonstrate employment with a sponsoring organization. This made it difficult to obtain employment permits for entrepreneurs who wanted to start their own ventures independently.
H-1B Visa Application Fee
Registration Fee: To be part of the H-1B lottery, applicants must pay a $10 registration fee, a figure that remains unchanged through 2024. This is the first step for potential applicants during the initial registration period, which typically occurs each March. Year.
filing fees: Additionally, employers must pay $460 as a base filing fee for all H-1B petitions. Additionally, to prevent fraud and abuse of the H-1B program, a $500 anti-fraud fee is mandated for all initial and change employer petitions.
Employer Surcharge: Companies with more than 50 employees, half of whom have H-1B or L-1 visas, are required to pay a $4,000 fee under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. This surcharge will remain effective till 30 September 2025.
Premium Processing (optional): Employers who are in a hurry to hire a foreign worker can choose to expedite the processing of their H-1B petitions by just 15 calendar days by paying a premium processing fee of $2,805. This service is a necessity for critical appointments in time-sensitive industries.
Who pays what?
In the H-1B visa application process, most of the financial burden usually falls on the shoulders of the employer. The additional $4,000 employer fee is also theirs entirely. However, there are specific rules through which visa stamping and interview-related fees can be charged to employees.
total estimated cost
Here is an estimated total cost of applying for an H-1B visa:
For companies not subject to the additional $4,000 fee – $10 (registration fee) + $460 (base filing fee) + $500 (anti-fraud fee) = $970
For companies subject to the additional $4,000 fee – $10 (registration fee) + $460 (base filing fee) + $500 (anti-fraud fee) + $4,000 (additional employer fee) = $4,970
For Premium Processing–$2,805 is added for Expedited Processing, bringing the total to $3,775 or $7,775 for employers who choose Premium Processing, depending on the employer’s status.
Debate on H-1B visa in America
Three weeks before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, the debate over the H-1B visa program has heated up, creating a real divide in both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Indians are the main beneficiaries of H-1B visas, bringing in the best talents and minds from across the world. A large number of highly skilled professionals leave India on H-1B visas – 65,0000 as mandated by Congress every year and 20,000 for those pursuing higher education from the US.
President-elect Donald Trump has come out in support of the H-1B, and so have two of his close confidants, Tesla owner Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, both of whom have been tasked with leading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
However, he is facing a backlash from Mr Trump’s supporters who argued it is eating up Americans’ jobs. In addition, on Thursday, influential Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders also said that two of Trump’s close confidants are wrong.
“Elon Musk and many other billionaire tech company owners have argued that this federal program is vital to our economy because of the shortage of highly skilled American engineers and other tech workers. I disagree.
“The core function of the H-1B visa program and other guest worker initiatives is not to hire the ‘best and the brightest,’ but to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad. The cheaper the labor,” Sanders said. “The more they hire, the more money billionaires make,” Thursday said.
