H-1B, L-1 biometric fee hike: Who has to pay the extra $4,000 and $4,500 under new US rule? - The Economic Times
The US Department of Homeland Security has expanded the $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 biometric fee to same-employer visa extensions from September 9, 2026. The fee applies only to employers with at least 50 US employees where more than half the workforce is in H-1B or L-1 status. The employer, not the visa holder, must pay the fee, while companies that do not meet these thresholds remain outside the requirement.