USA H-1B Visa Total Cost Breakdown 2026

The H-1B visa is the new standard of attracting world talent to the U.S., yet as of January 2026, the economic barrier to the visa has never been greater than it is now. Being a technology start-up or a Fortune 500 corporation, it is important to know the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 cap season (commencing in March 2026) that will impact your bottom line.

Essential Keywords for H-1B 2026

In conducting your research on the most recent updates at USCIS or when filling out your Pay.gov filings, it is necessary to include the following words:

Payment: $100k Proclamation Fee, Pay.gov Proof of payment, ACWIA Training Fee, Fraud Prevention Fee, Asylum Program Fee, Premium Processing (Form I-907).
Procedural Terms Beneficiary-Eccentric Selection, Weighted Selection Process (New in FY 2027), Organizational Account, USCIS Online Registration, Consular Processing vs. Change of Status.
Exemption Clause: Cap-Exempt Petitioner, Nonprofit Research Organization.

What You Need to Know

The most significant H-1B cost increase in decades, this will be presented through Presidential Proclamation in late 2025.

Amount: $100,000 per new beneficiary.
Who Pays: Is required in cases of the new H-1B petitions in which the worker is not yet a citizen of the U.S. or is not eligible to obtain a Change of Status.
Exception: The payment is not ordinarily levied on Change of Status applications (e.g., F-1 students already present in the U.S.), or mere extensions with the identical employer.
Status in Law: This fee is being challenged in a fast track appeal in the D.C. Circuit Court, as of January 2026. The employers are now required to pay it through Pay.gov and attach the receipt to the petition unless they are given an exception.
Attorney Fees: The fee will range between 2500 to 5000 dollars depending on the nature

Specialty Occupation RFE (Request for Evidence) defense

H-4 Dependent Fees: $420–$470 (Form I-539).
Level 4 Wages: Get 4 tickets in the lottery.
Level 1 Wages: Get none of 1 entries. It implies that the entry-level talent might need additional registrations or higher remuneration packages to be competitive, which in turn contributes to the cost per hire indirectly.

FAQ

Can the employee pay the $100,000 fee?

No. According to the existing Department of Labor (DOL) rules and regulations, mandatory filing fee (including the Proclamation Fee) is counted as a business expense. Illegal deductions to wages may occur due to the imposition by the employer of making an employee pay.

Is there any fee waiver on the $100k payment?

Yes, but they are rare. A National Interest Exception (NIE) can be requested by employers who have the ability to demonstrate that the worker is essential to the security of the United States, health (e.g., rural doctors), or a technology industry that the nation requires.

What is the date of the H-1B lottery registration of 2026?

Registration opens is usually the first part of March 2026 and closes in mid-month. By this time you have to have your USCIS Organizational Account prepared.

Conclusion

Minimization of costs will be achieved by giving preference to those candidates who are in the U.S. on F-1 STEM OPT or L-1 status. As long as you file a Change of Status instead of Consular Processing, you are legally not required to pay the additional capital of 100,000, a Proclamation Fee, which would save your company a considerable amount of money.

Disclaimer

The article is information and educative. The immigration laws are changing fast with the continued litigation and executive intervention as in the case of the $100,000 Proclamation Fee and the Weighted Selection Process. It is recommended that prior to making financial choices, readers need to check the information of official sources of USCIS.gov and also consult with an experienced immigration lawyer.