If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news lately, you probably saw some headlines that made your heart skip a beat. Honestly, the world of H-1B visas has always been a bit of a maze, but lately, it feels like the walls are moving. You’re likely here because you heard about that massive $100,000 fee and thought, "There's no way." Well, there's some truth to it, but also a lot of nuance that the scary headlines tend to skip over.
Let's talk about h-1b visa fees 2025.
Budgeting for a visa used to be a straightforward—if annoying—part of doing business. Now, it's a strategic operation. Between the new "Asylum Program Fee," the leap in registration costs, and a controversial presidential proclamation that shook the tech world last September, the price of talent has never been higher.
The $100,000 Question
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room first. On September 19, 2025, a Presidential Proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" introduced a supplemental $100,000 fee.
I know. It sounds fake. But it's real—for a very specific group of people.
Basically, if an employer is filing a petition for someone who is currently outside the United States and doesn't already have a valid H-1B visa, they are on the hook for this payment. It’s meant to be paid via Pay.gov before the petition is even filed.
But here is where the "what most people get wrong" part comes in. If you are an F-1 student already in the U.S. on OPT and your employer is filing a Change of Status, you generally don’t pay this. USCIS clarified in late October 2025 that the fee isn't meant for people already here transitioning between statuses. That’s a huge relief for the thousands of international grads from U.S. universities.
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Breaking Down the Standard Costs
Even without the $100,000 shocker, the "normal" fees have crept up. If you're planning for the upcoming FY 2027 lottery (which starts in March 2026), or finishing up filings for 2025, you need to know the baseline.
The first thing you hit is the H-1B Registration Fee. This used to be $10—basically the price of a couple of coffees. Now? It’s **$215**.
That's a 2,050% increase.
The goal was to stop companies from spamming the system with thousands of "maybe" registrations. Now, every name you put in the hat costs a couple hundred bucks, which makes companies a lot more selective.
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Then you have the actual filing fees once someone is selected:
- Base Filing Fee (Form I-129): This is $780 for most employers.
- Asylum Program Fee: This is the new kid on the block for 2025. Large companies (25+ employees) pay $600. Small businesses pay $300, and nonprofits are exempt.
- ACWIA (Training) Fee: $1,500 for big companies; $750 for those with 25 or fewer employees.
- Fraud Prevention Fee: A flat $500.
If you add it all up for a large company, you're looking at roughly $3,595 just in government fees for a standard petition—and that’s before you pay a lawyer or consider premium processing.
The Hidden Trap of Consular Processing
One thing that’s catching people off guard in 2025 is the "Consular Notification" trap.
Sometimes, even if an employee is in the U.S., USCIS might deny the "Change of Status" but approve the H-1B itself. This means the person has to leave the country, go to an embassy, and "activate" their visa.
Under the new rules from September 2025, if USCIS decides the person is ineligible for a Change of Status and requires them to go through a consulate, that $100,000 fee might suddenly apply. It’s a terrifying possibility for someone whose status is even slightly "messy."
You've got to be extremely careful with your timing and status maintenance. If you leave the U.S. while the petition is pending, you might accidentally trigger a requirement for the $100,000 fee because you're now "outside" the country when the final approval happens.
Speed Costs More (Again)
If you're in a hurry—and in business, who isn't?—you probably use Premium Processing.
As of early January 2026, USCIS announced another inflation adjustment. If you file Form I-907 postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, the fee jumps from $2,805 to **$2,965**.
They do this every two years now. It’s basically a cost-of-living adjustment for the government. If you can get your filing in before that March 1 deadline, you save about $160. It’s not a fortune, but every bit helps when the base costs are already through the roof.
What Should You Do Now?
The legal landscape is shifting. Currently, groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities (AAU) are suing the government to stop the $100,000 fee. They argue it’s an overreach of executive power. We might see a court injunction before the next lottery in March 2026, but you can't bet your business on it.
Next Steps for Employers and Candidates:
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- Audit your current "In-U.S." status: If you have candidates abroad, the $100,000 fee is a massive barrier. If they are already in the U.S. (F-1, L-1, etc.), prioritize the "Change of Status" filing to avoid the supplemental fee.
- Budget for the $215 registration: The days of low-cost lottery entries are gone. If you're a startup planning to register 10 people, that’s $2,150 just for the chance to apply.
- Check your headcount: The "Asylum Program Fee" ($300 vs $600) depends on your total employee count. Ensure your HR records are precise before signing the I-129.
- Watch the March 1st deadline: If you need a decision fast on an extension or a new hire, file for Premium Processing before March 1, 2026, to lock in the "lower" $2,805 rate.
Navigating h-1b visa fees 2025 is mostly about staying ahead of the deadlines and being hyper-aware of where your employees are physically located when you hit "submit." The "wait and see" approach is getting expensive.
For now, the best move is to consult with your immigration counsel specifically about the "September 21st Proclamation" exceptions. Most petitions for people already inside the U.S. are safe from the $100k hit, but the standard filing costs are higher than ever, and they aren't going back down.