USCIS Increases Filing Fees
Published February 12th, 2024
Effective April 1, 2024, government filing fees for many immigration benefits will increase, including significant fee hikes for common employment-based petitions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final rule announcing the fee changes on January 31, 2024.
New Rule Highlights:
- I-129 base filing fees will vary depending on the visa type, with significant increases for O and L petitions.
- New Asylum Program Fee: I-129 and I-140 filings will be required to include a $600 asylum program fee on top of the increased base filing fees.
- I-485, application for adjustment of status, filing fee will increase from $1225 to $1440 and will only include the standalone I-485. Separate fees will apply for including the Form I-765, application for employment authorization document ($260) and Form I-131, application for advance parole ($630). The fee for the total bundle will increase to $2330.
- H-1B cap registration fee will increase from $10 to $215 per registration starting in next year’s lottery.
- Premium processing will slow down by changing the adjudication time frame from calendar days to business days.
- *Employers with 25 or fewer employees and certain nonprofits will pay discounted filing fees and a reduced Asylum Program Fee of $300.
Here are some of the key fee increases for business immigration cases:
Visa Type |
Current Fee |
New Fee (effective 4/1/2024)* |
Percentage Change |
I-129, H-1B |
$460 |
$780 |
70% |
I-129, L-1 |
$460 |
$1385 |
201% |
I-129, O-1 |
$460 |
$1055 |
129% |
I-129, E, H-3, P, Q, R, TN |
$460 |
$1015 |
121% |
I-140, Immigrant Petition |
$700 |
$715 |
2% |
I-485, Application for Adjustment of Status |
$1,225 |
$1,440 |
18% |
I-485 bundle with I-765, Employment Authorization and I-131, Advance Parole |
$1225 |
$2330 |
90% |