H-1B visa cost varies for Indians. These factors might push up price

For many Indians, the route of legal immigration to the US comes at a high price. This starts with their work visa application and ends with landing in the US for a job. The cost of applying for an H-1B visa for Indians varies depending on several factors, such as the size of the employing company or employer and whether premium processing is chosen. The overall cost of the legal route to immigration in the US costs thousands of dollars (lakhs of rupees), but here is the breakdown of the cost of an H-1B visa.

Depending on several factors, including the company size, the cost of applying for an H-1B visa can range from anywhere between USD 2,010 (Rs 1,67,830) to USD 7,380 (Rs 6,13,140).

For a typical H-1B petition, the base filing fee is USD 460 (Rs 38,230), which is applicable to all applicants. This fee is the primary cost when applying for a visa. However, additional fees come into play, particularly for new petitions or changes of status, according to NNU Immigration.

The programme is dominated by Indians, who secured 72% of H-1B visas for the October 2022 -September 2023 cyccle, compared to 12% for Chinese nationals, who were the second highest.

Registration for H-1B visa cap lottery will start on March 7, 2025, and run till March 24, 2025. This is for the employment cycle that begins October 1, 2025 for an initial three-year period. Stay in the US using an H-1B visa can be extended up to six years.

It is a different matter that most H-1B holders, once in the US, use the I-140 petition to get into the Green Card queue and prolonged stay.

To add robustness to the lottery system, modifications have been made, including increased registration fees and top-down sifting.

MANDATORY COSTS OF H-1B VISA, FEE RANGE

One of the mandatory costs is the anti-fraud fee, which amounts to USD 500 (Rs 41,500). This fee is required for new petitions, including those for new employees or when there is a change of status, but it is not necessary for H-1B extensions.

Another important cost is the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) fee, which is meant to support workforce training programmes in the US.

This fee ranges from USD 750 (Rs 62,250) to USD 1,500 (Rs 1,24,500) depending on the size of the employer.

Employers with fewer than 25 employees pay the lower fee of USD 750 (Rs 62,250), while those with 25 or more employees must pay the higher fee of USD 1,500 (Rs 1,24,500), according to a study by Indiana University.

In some cases, an asylum programme fee of USD 600 (Rs 49,800) applies to employers with more than 50 employees, where more than half of the workforce is on H-1B or L-1 visas. This fee is aimed at supporting the US asylum programme.

Rs 2 LAKH TO EXPEDITE H-1B VISA PROCESS

Additionally, if the employer chooses to expedite the application process, a premium processing fee of USD 2,500 (Rs 2,07,500) is required. This service guarantees a faster processing time of 15 calendar days, which can be beneficial for applicants who need their visa approval quickly.

Moreover, an H-1B registration fee of USD 215 (Rs 17,895) is required during the annual registration period. This fee is paid for each registration submitted, even if the petition is not selected in the lottery, which is a key component of the H-1B visa process.

In total, the cost of applying for an H-1B visa can range from approximately USD 2,010 (Rs 1,67,830) to USD 7,380 (Rs 6,13,140), depending on the specific circumstances of the applicant and employer.

In addition to the H-1B visa, the cost for an L-1 visa for Indians typically ranges from USD 2,190 (Rs 1,82,770) to USD 7,600 (Rs 6,32,800), depending on employer size and the specific petition type. For a student visa (F-1), the cost usually ranges from USD 510 (Rs 42,330) to USD 1,000 (Rs 83,000), covering application and Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) fees.

These fees do not cover other potential costs, such as legal fees or additional expenses for dependents. It is important for employers and applicants to look at the changing fees and ensure they comply with the latest US immigration guidelines. Therefore, depending on the applicant and the employer, the H-1B visa can cost anywhere between Rs 1.7 lakh and Rs 6.1 lakh.