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US visa fee hikes to come into effect on Apr. 1
The increase follows the denial of a "temporary restraining order" seeking to postpone the implementation of the April 1 immigration fee increases
The US increased the visa fees under three categories effective April 1. / Canva
Effective Apr. 1, 2024, the fees for a variety of US non-immigrant visas, including the highly coveted H1-B visa for Indian nationals and others like the L-1 and EB-5 visas, will go up.
The application fee for the H-1B visa, form I-129, increased to US$780 US$460. Moreover, the registration fee for H-1B visas is also set to increase from US$0 to US$215. The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign workers for occupations requiring specialized knowledge.
The initial duration of stay is three years, and extendable up to six years. Over 70 percent of the 85,000 visas available (including the 20,000 visas set aside for holders of advanced US degrees under the master's quota) have been obtained by Indian tech professionals in recent years, making them prominent beneficiaries of H1B visas.
Simultaneously, the fee for L-1 visas surged from US$460 to US$1,385. The L-1 visa is divided into two subcategories – the L-1A and the L-1B. The L-1A visa allows a US employer to transfer executives or managers from its foreign offices to its US offices or to establish a new office in the US. On the other hand, the L-1B visa is for the transfer of employees with advanced knowledge to the US-based office of the same company.
In addition to H-1B and L-1, the EB-5 program also saw a hike. The EB-5 visa fee rose from US$3,675 to US$11,160. This type of visa is known for its pathway to US residency for investors with substantial investment. The EB-5 program is aimed at creating jobs and fostering economic growth.
The increase in fees follows the denial of a "temporary restraining order" seeking to postpone the implementation of the April 1 immigration fee increases by a US district court. The lawsuit filed by ITServe Alliance and the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA) which sought deferral of the imposition of the revised fees, pending disposal of the lawsuit by the court.
Reacting to the court ruling, AIIIA said in a statement, “The silver lining in this story is that the government did not oppose, and the court did not opine on our main argument in the lawsuit, thus we still believe that we have a strong chance of ultimately winning this suit.”
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