USCIS raises fees for H-1B and L-1 visas

The USCIS (United States Citizen and Immigration Services) has increased visa fees for H-1B and L-1 visas. As per the new rules effective from December 2015, firms will have to dole out $4,000 more for every H-1B visa application. L-1 visa petition applications would cost an additional $4,500. The regulations for both these visas would be effective till 30 September, 2025. H-1B visa applicants need to pay $4,000 more if the firm has a staff of 50 in the US, with more than half of them being employees with H-1B, L-1B and L-1A non-immigrant status. According to the USCIS, the additional fees should be a paid in a separate check payable to the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). DHS also put in place the parameters by which to count the number of employees of the firm. USCIS is quoted as saying in a statement issued to the press that it would count all of the full-time and part-time employees when assessing if they need to pay this fee. Staff of related entities will not be taken into account. It also added that its calculation would depend on the number of employees of firm in United States, without taking into account if they are paid through a US or overseas payroll, when determining the percentage of their employees in H-1B or L-1 status.