Lowest Cost Work Visa
TN Visa
~$685–$1,685 total (USMCA nationals)
Most Common Work Visa (H-1B)
$3,880–$6,880+
Employer required to pay all USCIS fees
Premium Processing Fee
+$2,965
15-business-day USCIS action guarantee
The Four Fee Categories for Every US Visa
Every US immigration filing involves multiple fee components that must be tracked separately. Missing any component can delay your case or result in rejection of the fee payment. Here is what you need to budget for:
| Fee Category | Typical Amount | Who Pays | When Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| USCIS Filing Fee | $460–$11,160 | Employer (work visas) / Applicant | Every petition or application |
| Biometrics Fee | $85 | Applicant | Most I-485, N-400, certain I-539 filings |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 | Employer (large employers) | H-1B, L-1, O-1, I-140 petitions ($300 small employers, $0 nonprofits) |
| Fraud Prevention Fee | $500 | Employer | H-1B initial filings only |
| Premium Processing (I-907) | $2,965 | Whoever requests it | Optional — guarantees 15-business-day notice of action |
| Attorney Fees | $500–$7,000+ | Employer or Applicant | Highly recommended for complex petitions |
| Consular / MRV Fee | $185 | Applicant | Consular processing (B, F, J, E-2, H-1B stamp at embassy) |
2024 USCIS Fee Increases — What Changed
USCIS implemented a comprehensive fee rule effective April 1, 2024 — the first major update since 2016. The increases average 26% across most categories, with some categories seeing much larger increases. Key changes applicants need to know:
- →H-1B base fee: Increased from $460 to $780 for employers with 1–25 full-time employees, and from $730 to $780 for larger employers. All H-1B petitions now use a tiered fee table.
- →Asylum Program Fee introduced: New $600 fee for most employer-sponsored petitions (I-129, I-140). Reduced to $300 for employers with 1–25 full-time employees and $0 for nonprofits.
- →I-485 adjustment of status: Increased from $1,140 to $1,440 (includes biometrics — no longer charged separately).
- →EB-5 Regional Center petition: Dramatically increased from $3,675 to $11,160 for I-526 petitions filed through a regional center.
- →Premium processing unchanged: The I-907 premium processing fee remained at $2,965, guaranteeing a 15-business-day notice of action.
Source: USCIS.gov — Filing Fees · Last updated: April 2026
Hidden Costs Most Applicants Forget to Budget
Beyond USCIS filing fees, several additional costs frequently surprise applicants who do not plan ahead:
| Hidden Cost | Typical Range | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Credential evaluation | $150–$400 | Foreign degree holders applying for H-1B, EB-2, EB-3 |
| Document translation | $50–$200 per document | Any foreign-language document (birth certificate, degree, etc.) |
| Medical exam (I-693) | $200–$500 | I-485 adjustment of status applicants |
| Police certificates | $0–$100+ | I-485 applicants who lived outside US for 6+ months since age 16 |
| Visa stamp at consulate | $185 MRV fee | Traveling abroad and re-entering on a new visa stamp |
| SEVIS fee | $350 (F-1/J-1) | International students and exchange visitors |
| Travel and translation logistics | Varies | Applicants who must attend consular interviews outside their home city |
Select Your Visa Type — Full Cost Breakdown
Click any visa type below to see the complete fee breakdown including all USCIS filing fees, optional premium processing, and estimated attorney costs.
H-1B Work Visa
$780
Employer required to pay all USCIS fees
Total est: $3,880–$6,880+
Full Breakdown →
O-1 Extraordinary Ability
$780
No lottery, no annual cap
Total est: $4,280–$8,080+
Full Breakdown →
L-1 Intracompany Transfer
$780
Intracompany transfer visa
Total est: $3,880–$6,380+
Full Breakdown →
EB-2 NIW (Self-Petition)
$715
No employer sponsorship required
Total est: $3,715–$6,715+
Full Breakdown →
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability
$715
Highest green card standard
Total est: $3,715–$7,715+
Full Breakdown →
I-485 Adjustment of Status
$1,620
Green card application
Total est: $3,120–$4,620+
Full Breakdown →
N-400 Naturalization
$760
US citizenship application
Total est: $1,760–$3,260+
Full Breakdown →
TN Visa (USMCA)
$185
Lowest cost work visa
Total est: $685–$1,685+
Full Breakdown →
E-2 Treaty Investor
$0
Consular fee: $315 MRV
Total est: $3,000–$6,315+
Full Breakdown →
EB-5 Investor Visa
$11,160
Investment of $800K–$1.05M required
Total est: $11,160+
Full Breakdown →
E-3 Visa (Australia)
$780
Australian nationals only
Total est: $2,280–$4,280+
Full Breakdown →
H-1B1 (Chile/Singapore)
$0
Cap-exempt, consular processing
Total est: $1,500–$2,685+
Full Breakdown →
Legal Disclaimer: Fee information is provided for general educational purposes and is subject to change. USCIS fees change periodically. Always verify current fees at USCIS.gov/forms/filing-fees before filing. Attorney fee estimates are averages and vary significantly by case complexity, geography, and attorney experience. USVisaStack is not a law firm and this content does not constitute legal advice.
Know your costs before you hire an attorney
Our paid analyzers give you a full 10-section case assessment — eligibility, RFE risk, green card path, and attorney letter — for $49.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a US visa cost in 2026?
The cost depends heavily on visa type. H-1B total costs run $3,880–$6,880+ (USCIS fees plus attorney; employer typically pays). O-1 costs $4,280–$8,080+. Green card adjustment of status (I-485) costs $2,940–$4,440+. The cheapest work option is TN visa at $685–$1,685. EB-5 investor visa is the most expensive at $11,160+ in filing fees alone, plus the required $800K–$1.05M investment.
Who pays the H-1B filing fees — employer or employee?
By statute, the employer is required to pay all USCIS filing fees for H-1B petitions, including the base filing fee, the asylum program fee, and the fraud prevention fee. Employers cannot legally pass these fees to the H-1B worker. Only premium processing (I-907) can be paid by the employee if they request it for personal reasons.
What is USCIS premium processing and is it worth it?
Premium processing costs $2,965 and guarantees USCIS will take action within 15 business days — not necessarily an approval, but an approval, denial, RFE, or notice of intent to deny. It is often worth it when: a new job has a tight start date, the H-1B cap-gap window is close, or status confirmation is needed quickly for travel. It does not guarantee approval, only a faster initial decision.
Are there ways to reduce US visa filing costs?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations pay reduced USCIS fees: no fraud prevention fee, and $0 asylum program fee for H-1B. Small employers (1–25 full-time employees) pay a $300 asylum program fee instead of $600. TN visa is the most cost-effective work visa for Canadian and Mexican USMCA professionals. Self-represented (pro se) petitions eliminate attorney fees but significantly increase RFE risk and are not recommended for complex categories.
What are the USCIS fees for a green card application (I-485)?
As of April 2026, the I-485 adjustment of status fee is $1,620 (biometrics included). Additional costs include: medical exam ($200–$500 with a designated civil surgeon), attorney fees ($1,500–$3,000), and fees for concurrently filed applications such as I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (advance parole) — though concurrent filings with I-485 may qualify for a reduced fee.
What does the USCIS Asylum Program Fee cover?
The Asylum Program Fee was introduced in the April 2024 fee rule to fund USCIS asylum processing operations. It applies to most employer-filed I-129 (work visa) and I-140 (immigrant petition) petitions: $600 for employers with 26+ employees, $300 for small employers (1–25 employees), $0 for nonprofits. It is a separate charge added on top of the base filing fee.
Do I need to pay fees again if USCIS denies my petition?
Yes. USCIS filing fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome. If your petition is denied, you must pay all fees again when refiling. This is why investing in proper documentation and legal review upfront — rather than cutting costs by filing without qualified representation — typically saves money overall by avoiding denials and costly refilings.