USA Dependent Visa Cost After Work Visa 2026
The fact that you want to bring your family to the United States in 2026 is an achievement, but the economic situation of the dependents has changed considerably. Following the recent implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the premium processing increases as of March 2026, it is now necessary to avoid the indeterminable surcharges in the budget planning.
As an H-1B, L-1 or O-1 professional, you will know the per-person costs of your spouse and children, and avoid last minute rush at the consulate or the USCIS.
Dependent Filing & 2026 Surcharges
The immigration budget of your family needs to be calculated correctly, and to achieve that, you need to take into account the costs as the following four main pillars:
- Entry Surcharges:ย New Visa Integrity Fee of $250 (per person), MRV Machine-Readable Visa Fee of $205 and country-specific Reciprocity Fees.1
- In-Country Status Terms:ย Form I-539 (Change of Status/Extension), I-539A (additional dependents), and 30 Biometric Fee.
- Work Authorization (EAD): Form I-765 (520-560), H-4 EAD eligibility requirements, and L-2S rules of incident to status.2.
- 2026 Processing Items:ย Form I-539 (Premium Processing) ($2,075 beginning in March 1) and Form I-765 (Premium Processing) ($1,780 beginning in March 1).
High Impact 2026 Compliance Shifts
The Visa integrity Fee of $250 (Optional)
This fee was introduced in late 2025 by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is used to track the overstays.5
- Applicability: Is applicable to all H-4, L-2 and J-2 applicants in consulates.6
- Refund Loophole:ย You can request a refund of this $250 in case you leave the U.S. within five days of your authorized stay expiration date and have no status violation.7 As of early 2026 the DHS portal on these refunds is still in pilot mode.
Premium Rise (March 1, 2026)
DHS will raise premium fees on March 1, 2026, to reflect inflation 20232025.8
- I-539 (Dependent Status):ย Rises to $2,075.9
- I-765 (Work Permits): Rises to $1,780.
- Pro- Tip:ย If you are filing at the beginning of 2026, make sure that your application is postmarked prior to March 1 to receive the lower 2025 rates and save more than 100 per form.
Reciprocity Fee Variance
Whereas in India and China, the reciprocity fees on dependents usually form 0, elsewhere the charge is high. As an illustration, Australian H-4 applicants can pay higher than 1600 dollars. Look at the Department of State Reciprocity Table before you interview.
Reduction of Dependent Costs Tips in 2026
- Concurrent Filing: Filing: Indicate all family members in one I-539. This enables one spouse and all minor children to be insured on a single filing fee (biometric would nevertheless be insured separately).
- L-2S Automatic Authorization:ย L-2 spouses are not required to pay the $560 EAD fee in case I-94 displays the L-2S designation. They are given rights to work immediately they come.
- The 45-Day Rule: Extension: You must file your extension no less than 45 days prior to the expiry of your current I-94 or you will face the penalty of paying $2,000 or more in attorney fees as an Nun c Pro Tuns penalty.
FAQs
Does the Visa Integrity Fee amounting to 250 United States dollars apply to each family member?
Yes. With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) the fee is imposed on the individual on the issuance of the visa at a consulate. The total amount of this fee will increase by an extra one thousand dollars in a family of four (principal + 3 dependents) in addition to normal application fees.
Is a refund available on the Integrity Fee in the event of denied visa?
No. Integrity Fee is paid in case the visa is processed successfully. Nevertheless, it can be refunded later provided the traveler adheres to all the conditions of the visa and leaves the U.S. within the five days of his/her lawful stay (or legally renews/changes the status).
Have H-4 students to attend school?
No. K-12 children are able to study primary and secondary school (H-4) and post-secondary university without a work permit (EAD). One does not need work authorization to be employed, and at the moment, only H-4 spouses had a chance to seek an EAD under certain circumstances (e.g. approved I-140 about the primary).
Final Thoughts
The dependent visa landscape of the year 2026 will be characterized by greater transparency with a premium price tag. Although the introduction of the Visa Integrity Fee would be an extra burden on the start-up, the opportunity of a refund provides a rare incentive to act within the law in ways that had not been seen in the last few years.
Disclaimer:
This paper is informational and educational. It is recommended that the reader should always ensure that he or she gets the information of reliable sources before making decisions.