Indian companies to pay higher US H-1B visa fee

Indian companies, according to Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, will have to pay additional fees of $4,000 for certain H-1B and $4,500 for L-1 petitioners, details published on Friday by USCIS said.

The law, signed by US President Barack Obama in December 2015, increased fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitioners, USCIS said in a statement published on its website.

The fees is applicable on the companies employing 50 or more employees in the US, with more than 50% of those employees in H-1B or L (including L-1A and L-1B) non-immigrant status.

It is in addition to the base processing fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 fee (when required) and the premium processing fee, if applicable.

USCIS may begin rejecting petitions received on or after February 11 this year that do not complete Section 1 of the H-1B and H-1B1 Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement and the L Classification Supplement.

The H-1B visa allows US employers to recruit foreign professionals in speciality occupations while L-1 visas are available to employees of an international company with offices in both the US and abroad.