# US expands H-1B visa fee to cover extensions from Sept 9

2026-08-10T08:05:44+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The US Department of Homeland Security will apply the $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 biometric fee to extension-of-stay petitions from September 9. The fee targets employers with at least 50 US staff and a workforce that is more than 50% on H-1B or L-1 visas. Earlier, routine extensions by the same employer were exempt. DHS says the revised interpretation corrects its previous reading of the 2015 law. DHS estimates the expanded rule will generate an additional $37.9 million in fiscal 2026. The change could raise costs for Indian IT companies, which employ large numbers of professionals on these visas. Between fiscal 2018 and 2025, about 27% of H-1B petitions from covered employers attracted the fee; under the new rule, the share would have been 75%.

## Coverage

- nationalheraldindia.com <https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/new-us-rule-raises-recurring-h-1b-costs-for-visa-dependent-employers>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/h-1b-l-1-visa-extensions-get-costlier-from-september-9-what-changes-and-who-pays/articleshow/133108723.cms>

Tags: biometric fee, DHS, green card backlog, H-1B visas, Indian IT workers, US immigration
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/new-us-rule-hikes-h-1b-costs-for-visa-dependent-employers/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/new-us-rule-hikes-h-1b-costs-for-visa-dependent-employers/#story-in-brief

Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.