Visa Sponsorship Employer Cost
H1B sponsor cost employer: $5K-$10K initial. L1: $4K-$8K. Plus annual prevailing wage hikes. Premium processing $2,805 (15 day).
| Visa type | — |
| Premium processing | — |
| Years | — |
| Filing fees | — |
| Premium fee | — |
| Attorney fees | — |
| Initial total | — |
| Renewal cost | — |
| Lifetime cost | — |
Sponsoring a US work visa as employer has significant costs beyond the employee's salary. Filing fees, attorney fees, premium processing, and renewal cycles add up. Plus prevailing wage requirements may force salary above market rate.
Filing Fee Components
Form I-129 base: $460. Anti-fraud fee: $500 (H1B). ACWIA fee: $750-$1,500 (depending on company size). $4,000 outsourcing fee if 50+ employees and 50%+ on H1B/L1. Plus DS-160 visa app + interview. Total: $1,500-$7,500 by visa type and company.
Attorney Fees
H1B: $4,500-$6,500 standard. L1: $3,500-$5,500. O1: $7,500-$10,500 (more evidence). Premium processing prep: $1K-$2K extra. RFE response: $2K-$5K additional. Renewal: typically 60% of initial attorney cost. Cap: 10-15 hours typical.
Prevailing Wage Compliance
H1B requires paying at least prevailing wage. Department of Labor determines based on geographic area + occupation. Often higher than market rate ($90K-$200K range). Cannot lower salary to compensate; must maintain compliance throughout employment.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: USCIS Fee Schedule.