The US government announced a new rule requiring employers with 50 or more employees to pay increased fees for H-1B and L-1 visa extensions starting September 9. Eligible employers must pay $4,000 (approximately ₹3.68 lakh) for H-1B visa extension petitions and $4,550 (around ₹4.2 lakh) for L-1 visa extensions, according to livemint.com. This change affects companies where more than half the workforce holds these visas.
The rule, published on August 10, targets large employers with a significant number of H-1B and L-1 visa holders. It expands an existing fee structure to cover certain visa extension petitions. The US government aims to shift the financial burden of visa extensions from employees to employers, impacting companies heavily reliant on these nonimmigrant workers. The policy applies to visa petitions filed after the effective date.
This fee increase comes amid ongoing scrutiny of US visa programs for foreign professionals, particularly those from India. The H-1B and L-1 visas are widely used by Indian IT and tech workers to work in the US. The new fees could raise operational costs for companies employing large numbers of visa holders, potentially influencing hiring and extension decisions. The move aligns with broader US immigration policy trends focusing on employer accountability.
The new fee requirements take effect on September 9, 2026, as confirmed by the US government. Employers must comply with the updated fee structure for visa extension petitions filed on or after this date, impacting thousands of Indian professionals working in the US under H-1B and L-1 visas.