Petitioning employers who employ 50 or more workers in the United States with more than half of those employees being H1-B or L visa holders are now having to pay higher filing fees of $2,000 for H1-B petitions and $2,500 for L visa petitions.

The fee increase is part of a new border security bill signed into law on August 13 and will remain in effect until September 30, 2014.  Petitions postmarked on or after August 14, 2010 are subject to these higher fees.  USCIS will be amending Form I-129 and H1-B Data Collection Form to include information regarding the application of these new fees.

We recommend that until the immigration forms are updated employers should submit with H-1B and L filings a statement or letter certifying they are not subject to this additional fee, if applicable.

Click here for more information on H-1B and L Visa fee increases.