H-1B Visa Renewal: A New US Fee Is Coming
The US is proposing to expand additional fees to H-1B Visa Renewal petitions, increasing costs for major employers and potentially affecting thousands of Indian professionals.
The Trump administration is proposing to expand an existing government fee to H-1B Visa Renewal and L-1 visa extension petitions. If finalized, the change could significantly increase costs for large employers and disproportionately affect Indian professionals, who accounted for nearly 78% of H-1B extension approvals in FY2025.
US Plans to Expand Existing Visa Fee
The proposal would extend the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to routine H-1B and L-1 extension petitions. Currently, the fee applies only to new H-1B and L-1 petitions and certain change-of-employer filings. Under the proposed rule, employers would also have to pay the fee each time they seek to extend the stay of an existing employee.
The proposal was originally published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2024 and has now appeared in the administration's 2026 regulatory agenda. A final rule is expected in the coming weeks.
Indian Professionals Could Be the Most Affected
According to USCIS data, 406,348 H-1B petitions were approved in FY2025, with 291,542 approved for continuing employment. Indian nationals accounted for 226,359 of those approvals, approximately 77.6% of all H-1B extensions.
Because extensions make up the majority of H-1B approvals, employers relying heavily on Indian talent could face substantially higher costs if the proposal takes effect. Applicants monitoring their H1B visa status or planning an upcoming H-1B Visa Renewal should keep track of future announcements, although there are currently no changes to the H1B visa grace period or petition procedures under Form I-129.
Large Tech Employers Face Higher Costs
The proposal would apply only to employers with 50 or more U.S. employees, where at least half of the workforce holds H-1B or L-1 status. Companies such as Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google, which recorded some of the highest numbers of H-1B extension approvals in FY2025, could see their USCIS filing fee burden increase significantly.
If finalized, the rule would add another financial hurdle for employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers. While it does not change Green Card processing time, US permanent residency, or the broader H1B vs Green Card pathway, it could make retaining experienced foreign professionals more expensive under the existing visa system.
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Read full News here: https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/h-1b-visa-news-indians-in-us-l1-visa-renewal-h1b-9-11-response-and-biometric-entry-exit-fee-2963145-2026-08-04
