Government Filing Fee Increases are Coming for Many Employment-Based Visa Categories
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be raising the filing fee amounts for many employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories, effective April 1, 2024. In addition, the USCIS premium processing fee, which requires USCIS to respond to a petition within 15 calendar days from filing, will increase by 12.3% to $2,805, effective February 26, 2024. According to a USCIS press release, these fee increases will help USCIS recover operating costs and support timely processing of new applications. USCIS further stated that since only 4% of its budget is congressionally funded, USCIS is raising its filing fees to keep up with the 26% Consumer Price Index increase since 2016.
Employers with more than 25 employees will be subject to a 70% increase in filing fees for H-1B petitions, a 201% increase for L-1 petitions, and an 85% increase for E and TN petitions. Employers are advised to consult with an immigration attorney and closely monitor the USCIS website to ensure that all petitions are properly filed.
