Employers Have Paid $5 Billion In H-1B Visa Fees Since 1999

[tacobell fan]

Employers spend a lot of money to sponsor high-skilled foreign nationals on H-1B visas – and the costs continue to rise. These costs take on increased significance at a time of heightened government scrutiny over hiring high-skilled foreign nationals, particularly given that on April 1, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B applications for FY 2020.

“Employers have paid nearly $5 billion in mandated H-1B fees (currently $1,500 per a new or extended H-1B petition) that primarily fund scholarships for U.S. students and training for U.S. workers, a figure that rises to over $7 billion if one includes $1.6 billion in mandated anti-fraud fees and other government fees,” according to a new study from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).

Attorney costs and government fees range from $3,400 up to $16,560 for an initial H-1B petition and from $6,300 to $28,620 for the cost of both an initial H-1B petition and an extension. Note that employers also must pay an H-1B professional the higher of the prevailing wage or actual wage paid to “all other individuals with similar experience and qualifications for the specific employment in question.”

Since wait times for H-1B processing are typically 10 to 12 months, it is generally imperative for most employers to pay a $1,410 “premium processing” fee, which can guarantee a USCIS decision within 15 days. Companies can spend up to $4,500 in extra legal costs if a USCIS adjudicator issues a Request for Evidence, which government data show happened in 60% of completed cases in the 1st quarter of FY 2019.

 

Table 1: Employer H-1B Costs
Application Fee	$460
Attorney Fees	$1,500 to $4,000
Attorney Fees if a Request for Evidence	$2,000 to $4,500
Scholarship and Training Fee	$1,500 ($750 for employers with 25 or fewer employees)
Anti-Fraud Fee	$500
Premium Processing (generally necessary)	$1,410
50/50 Fee on Employers with Majority H-1B/L-1 Workforce	$4,000
Visa Application (cost based on reciprocity)	$190
TOTAL	$3,400 to $16,560 for initial H-1B petition; $6,300 to $28,620 combined cost of initial H-1B petition and extension*

[AndhraneedSCS]

Nenu ee patiki $25 Kotti untanu 

 

H1B (premium)+ H-1B Transfer(premium) + H-1b Renewal (4 times premium )

[tacobell fan]

This is news from April.

[afdb001]

5 minutes ago, tacobell fan said:

Employers spend a lot of money to sponsor high-skilled foreign nationals on H-1B visas – and the costs continue to rise. These costs take on increased significance at a time of heightened government scrutiny over hiring high-skilled foreign nationals, particularly given that on April 1, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B applications for FY 2020.

“Employers have paid nearly $5 billion in mandated H-1B fees (currently $1,500 per a new or extended H-1B petition) that primarily fund scholarships for U.S. students and training for U.S. workers, a figure that rises to over $7 billion if one includes $1.6 billion in mandated anti-fraud fees and other government fees,” according to a new study from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).

Attorney costs and government fees range from $3,400 up to $16,560 for an initial H-1B petition and from $6,300 to $28,620 for the cost of both an initial H-1B petition and an extension. Note that employers also must pay an H-1B professional the higher of the prevailing wage or actual wage paid to “all other individuals with similar experience and qualifications for the specific employment in question.”

Since wait times for H-1B processing are typically 10 to 12 months, it is generally imperative for most employers to pay a $1,410 “premium processing” fee, which can guarantee a USCIS decision within 15 days. Companies can spend up to $4,500 in extra legal costs if a USCIS adjudicator issues a Request for Evidence, which government data show happened in 60% of completed cases in the 1st quarter of FY 2019.

 

Table 1: Employer H-1B Costs
Application Fee	$460
Attorney Fees	$1,500 to $4,000
Attorney Fees if a Request for Evidence	$2,000 to $4,500
Scholarship and Training Fee	$1,500 ($750 for employers with 25 or fewer employees)
Anti-Fraud Fee	$500
Premium Processing (generally necessary)	$1,410
50/50 Fee on Employers with Majority H-1B/L-1 Workforce	$4,000
Visa Application (cost based on reciprocity)	$190
TOTAL	$3,400 to $16,560 for initial H-1B petition; $6,300 to $28,620 combined cost of initial H-1B petition and extension*

[Anta Assamey]

7 Billion anukunta anukunta according to the article.... Without counting the Premium Fee.. 

[Spartan]

•   approx 2 trillion as SSN and Medicare taxes...so what..

 

@thcare  for Govt...legal immigrants need to keep on feeding the system..in wait for GC.

 

[Hector8]

anthena ? 10-20$B expect chesa

[LordOfMud]

[tacobell fan]

1 hour ago, Hector8 said:

anthena ? 10-20$B expect chesa

[r2d2]

Great..andulo naa 2 cents kooda vunnanduku chaala thrupthi ga vundi...

[Idassamed]

Peanuts antunna thaatha, maga 2.0 lo Inka fees penchestham

[tacobell fan]

1 minute ago, Idassamed said:

Peanuts antunna thaatha, maga 2.0 lo Inka fees penchestham

[tacobell fan]

1 minute ago, r2d2 said:

Great..andulo naa 2 cents kooda vunnanduku chaala thrupthi ga vundi...

2 cents not enough

[r2d2]

5 minutes ago, tacobell fan said:

2 cents not enough

[pittagoda]

3 hours ago, AndhraneedSCS said:

Nenu ee patiki $25 Kotti untanu 

 

H1B (premium)+ H-1B Transfer(premium) + H-1b Renewal (4 times premium )

Entha earn chesi untav after taxes?