I-129 filing fee (H-1B, L-1, O-1)
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: what USCIS charges, by filing category, from the official fee schedule.
The I-129 fee is $780 on paper and $730 online, plus additional fees that apply to some filers (see the table). Filing online saves $50. For H-1B petitions, employers also pay the fraud prevention fee, the ACWIA training fee and, where applicable, the Asylum Program Fee and Pub. L. 114-113 fee; all are listed below.
Paper filing
$780
plus extra fees if applicable
Online filing
$730
$50 cheaper
Processing time
9.5 mo
median, Apr–Jun 2026
Fee waiver
Limited
only for the categories noted below
H-1B and H-1B1 Petitions
| Filing Category | Paper Filing Fee | Online Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|
| If you are filing H-1B or H-1B1 petitions. If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $780 plus additional fees $460 plus additional fees, if applicable | $730 plus additional fees $460 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| Additional Fees: Asylum Program Fee If you are filing as a Regular Petitioner If you are filing as a Non-profit If you are filing as a Small Employer | Varies $600 $0 $300 | Varies $600 $0 $300 |
| Additional Fees: H-1B petitioners must submit a Fraud Prevention and Detection fee if they are: Seeking initial approval of H-1B nonimmigrant status for a beneficiary; or Seeking approval to employ an H-1B nonimmigrant currently working for another petitioner. Petitioners for Chile or Singapore H-1B1 Free Trade Nonimmigrants do not have to pay the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee. Fraud Prevention and Detection fee, when applicable, may not be waived. | $500 | $500 |
| Additional Fees: H-1B petitioners are required to submit an additional fee mandated by Pub. L. 114-113, if: They employ 50 or more individuals in the United States; More than 50 percent of those employees are in H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B nonimmigrant status; and The petition is filed on or before Sept. 30, 2027 The Pub. L. 114-113 Fee applies unless the petitioner is filing an amended petition that does not seek an extension of the alien’s currently authorized H-1B status. This fee does not apply to H-1B1 petitions. The Pub. L. 114-113 Fee, when applicable, may not be waived and is not refundable, regardless of any action taken on the petition. | $4,000 | $4,000 |
| Additional Fees: American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA). Petitioners filing for: An H-1B nonimmigrant; or A Chile or Singapore H-1B1 Free Trade Nonimmigrant must submit an additional ACWIA fee unless they are exempt under Section 2 of the H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement. To determine which ACWIA fee to pay, complete Section 2 of the H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement. | $1,500 or $750 (depending on number of workers the petitioner employs) | $1,500 or $750 (depending on number of workers the petitioner employs) |
| Additional Fees: Presidential Proclamation on Restriction of Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. Do not submit payment for this fee with your petition. You must use pay.gov to pay this fee prior to filing your petition. For additional information, see our H-1B Specialty Occupations page. | N/A | $100,000 (unless an exception has been granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security) |
L and L-1 Petitions
| Filing Category | Paper Filing Fee | Online Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|
| If you are filing L petitions. If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,385 plus additional fees $695 plus additional fees, if applicable | $1,335 plus additional fees $695 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| Additional Fees: Asylum Program Fee If you are filing as a Regular Petitioner If you are filing as a Nonprofit If you are filing as a Small Employer | Varies $600 $0 $300 | Varies $600 $0 $300 |
| Additional Fees: L petitioners must submit a Fraud Prevention and Detection fee if they are: Seeking initial approval of L nonimmigrant status for a beneficiary; Seeking approval to employ an L nonimmigrant currently working for another petitioner; or For blanket petitions, seeking approval for an L nonimmigrant to continue employment with an entity different from the previous petitioner. | $500 | $500 |
| Additional Fees: L-1 petitioners are required to submit an additional fee mandated by Pub. L. 114-113, if: They employ 50 or more individuals in the United States; More than 50 percent of those employees are in H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B nonimmigrant status; and The petition is filed on or before Sept. 30, 2027. The Pub. L. 114-113 Fee applies unless the petitioner is filing an amended petition that does not seek an extension of the alien’s currently authorized L-1 status. The Pub. L. 114-113 Fee, when applicable, may not be waived and is not refundable, regardless of any action taken on the petition. | $4,500 | $4,500 |
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (I-129)
| Filing Category | Paper Filing Fee | Online Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|
| If you are filing an E-1, E-2, E-2C, E-3, or TN petition. If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,015 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable | $965 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| If you are filing an H-3 petition. (limited to 25 beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,015 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable | $965 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| If you are filing an O petition. (limited to 1 beneficiary per petition for O-1; limited to 25 beneficiaries per petition for O-2) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,055 plus additional fees $530 plus additional fees, if applicable | $1,005 plus additional fees $530 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| If you are filing a P petition. (limited to 25 beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,015 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable | $965 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| If you are filing a Q petition. (limited to 25 beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,015 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable | $965 plus additional fees $510 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| If you are filing an R petition. | $510 plus additional fees, if applicable | $510 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| Additional Fees: Asylum Program Fee If you are filing as a Nonprofit; If you are filing as a Small Employer. | $600 $0 $300 | $600 $0 $300 |
H-2B Petitions
| Filing Category | Paper Filing Fee | Online Filing Fee (Cap-Exempt Only) |
|---|---|---|
| If you are filing an H-2B petition with named workers. (limited to 25 beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,080 plus additional fees $540 plus additional fees | $1,030 plus additional fees $540 plus additional fees |
| If you are filing H-2B petitions with unnamed workers. (no limit to number of beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $580 plus additional fees $460 plus additional fees | $530 plus additional fees $460 plus additional fees |
| Additional Fees: H-2B petitioners must submit an additional Fraud Prevention and Detection fee. Asylum Program FeeIf you are filing as a Regular Petitioner If you are filing as a Nonprofit; If you are filing as a Small Employer. | $150 Varies$600 $0 $300 | $150 Varies$600 $0 $300 |
H-2A Petitions (Including Standalone I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification)
| Filing Category | Paper Filing Fee | Online Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|
| If you are filing an H-2A petition with named workers. (limited to 25 beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $1,090 plus additional fees $545 plus additional fees, if applicable | 1. $1,040 plus additional fees 2. $545 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| If you are filing an H-2A petition with unnamed workers. (no limit to number of beneficiaries per petition) If you are filing as a Small Employer or Nonprofit. | $530 plus additional fees $460 plus additional fees, if applicable | $480 plus additional fees $460 plus additional fees, if applicable |
| Additional Fees: Asylum Program Fee If you are filing as a Regular Petitioner If you are filing as a Nonprofit If you are filing as a Small Employer | $600 $0 $300 | $600 $0 $300 |
How to pay
Online filings are paid through Pay.gov. For paper filings USCIS no longer accepts personal or business checks, money orders or cashier's checks unless you qualify for an exemption (Form G-1651): pay by credit, debit or prepaid card with Form G-1450 or from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650. A wrong amount gets the whole filing rejected.
I-129 processing time
9.5 months median
I-140 fee
$715 paper · $665 online
I-539 fee
$470 paper · $420 online
USCIS fee calculator
Add up the fees for your whole case
How much does a green card cost?
Total USCIS fees by path
Frequently asked questions
How much is the I-129 fee in 2026?
The I-129 fee is $780 on paper and $730 online, plus additional fees that apply to some filers (see the table). Filing online saves $50. For H-1B petitions, employers also pay the fraud prevention fee, the ACWIA training fee and, where applicable, the Asylum Program Fee and Pub. L. 114-113 fee; all are listed below. These are the amounts in the USCIS Fee Calculator, updated Oct 28, 2026.
Is it cheaper to file I-129 online?
Yes. Online filing costs $730 instead of $780 on paper, $50 less.
How do I pay the I-129 fee?
Online filings are paid through Pay.gov. For paper filings USCIS no longer accepts personal or business checks, money orders or cashier's checks unless you qualify for an exemption (Form G-1651): pay by credit, debit or prepaid card with Form G-1450 or from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650. A wrong amount gets the whole filing rejected.
How long does I-129 take after I pay?
USCIS decided half of all I-129 cases within 9.5 months in Apr–Jun 2026. See the I-129 processing time page for the history.
Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.