If you’re trying to bring a specialized worker into the States right now, you’ve probably noticed the math is getting scary. Honestly, the days of the "cheap" H-1B are dead and buried.
Everything changed in April 2024, but the real shocker came in late 2025. Now, as we navigate through 2026, the sticker shock is hitting HR departments like a ton of bricks. We aren't just talking about a couple hundred bucks for a form anymore. We are talking about a massive, multi-layered financial hurdle that has some companies questioning if the talent is actually worth the price tag.
The $100,000 Elephant in the Room
Let's address the absolute monster first. On September 19, 2025, a Presidential Proclamation dropped a bombshell: a $100,000 supplemental payment for certain H-1B petitions.
Yeah, you read that right. Five zeros.
This isn't a "fee" in the traditional USCIS sense—it’s more of a condition for entry. Basically, if you are filing a new H-1B petition for someone who is currently outside the U.S. and doesn't have a valid visa stamp, you’re looking at that massive bill. It’s meant to "protect American workers," but in reality, it’s felt like a sledgehammer to the tech and healthcare sectors.
There are loopholes, though. Sorta.
If you’re hiring someone already in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa and doing a "Change of Status," you don't have to pay that $100k. Same goes for simple extensions or switching employers for someone already on an H-1B here. But for anyone crossing a border? The bank account is going to take a hit.
The H-1B Visa Fee Increase US: Breaking Down the Receipt
Aside from the $100,000 nightmare, the standard filing fees have also spiraled. If you haven't looked at the fee schedule since 2023, you're in for a surprise.
The basic Form I-129 for H-1B workers used to be a flat $460. Now? It’s **$780** for large companies. If you’re a "small employer" (meaning 25 or fewer full-time employees), you still pay the old $460, which is a rare bit of mercy from the government. Nonprofits get that same break.
Then there’s the Asylum Program Fee. This is brand new. Every time you file an I-129 or an I-140, you’re chipping in to fund the asylum system.
- Large companies: $600
- Small employers: $300
- Nonprofits: $0 (lucky them)
Don't forget the H-1B Registration Fee. It used to be ten bucks. Literally the price of a burrito. Now, it's $215. That’s a 2,050% increase. It’s wild.
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The 2026 Premium Processing Update
If you're in a hurry—and let's be real, in business, everyone is—you're probably looking at Premium Processing.
As of March 1, 2026, that fee just went up again to reflect inflation. It’s now $2,965. It guarantees you a response in 15 business days (note: business days, not calendar days). If you don't pay it, you might be waiting months while your candidate sits in limbo.
Why is this happening?
USCIS is basically a giant business that runs on fees. They get about 96% of their budget from people like you filing forms. They haven't had a real raise since 2016, and the backlogs were getting embarrassing.
The agency claims these hikes will help them hire more staff and fix the tech debt that makes the whole system feel like it's running on a Windows 95 desktop. But for a startup trying to hire a niche engineer, it feels less like "better service" and more like an eviction notice from the global talent market.
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The "Total Cost" Reality Check
If you’re a mid-sized company hiring one H-1B worker from abroad in 2026, here is what the "cheap" version looks like without the $100k fee:
- I-129 Base Fee: $780
- Asylum Fee: $600
- Fraud Fee: $500
- ACWIA (Training) Fee: $1,500
- Registration: $215
- Premium Processing: $2,965
That's over $6,500 before you even pay a lawyer or consider the $100k entry fee if they are coming from overseas.
What You Should Actually Do Now
Stop waiting for the "old prices" to come back. They aren't.
If you are a business owner or HR lead, you need to audit your 2026-2027 hiring budget immediately. Here are the moves people are actually making:
- Prioritize "In-Country" Talent: Hiring an F-1 student who is already in the U.S. is now a massive cost-saving measure because it avoids the $100k proclamation fee.
- Verify Employer Size: Ensure your "Full-Time Equivalent" count is accurate. If you can stay under 25 employees, you save thousands across the board.
- Check for National Interest Exceptions: If the $100k fee applies, look into whether your worker qualifies for an exception (like being vital to national security or a critical infrastructure project). It’s a high bar, but it’s worth a shot.
- Use the $50 Discount: USCIS now gives you a $50 break if you file online instead of mailing paper. It’s small, but at this point, every penny counts.
The H-1B landscape has fundamentally shifted from a "paperwork cost" to a "strategic investment." You've got to play the game by the new rules or you're going to get left behind with an empty desk and a massive bill you didn't see coming.
To get started, review your current employee count to see if you qualify for the "Small Employer" designation, then calculate your total projected costs for the next fiscal year using the $780 base fee and the $600 asylum surcharge.