# US expands H-1B, L-1 extension fees for big employers 2026-08-10T18:51:52+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The US government has expanded a pre-existing fee for H-1B and L-1 extensions to cover large employers, effective September 9. Under rules published on August 10, companies with 50 or more US employees and a workforce over 50% on H-1B or L-1 visas must pay $4,000 for each H-1B extension and $4,500 for each L-1 extension. The employer is liable for the fee, which previously applied only to initial petitions and job changes. The US expects to raise $157.3 million annually for a biometric entry-exit system. Indian IT services and consulting firms, heavy users of these visas, will face higher costs for renewing thousands of workers. While the fee is not passed directly to employees, it could influence hiring and retention decisions. Some filings, such as amended petitions not requesting an extension, are exempt from the fee. ## Coverage - livemint.com Tags: H-1B visa, Indian IT firms, L-1 visa, US immigration, visa fees Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/us-expands-h-1b-l-1-extension-fees-for-big-employers/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/us-expands-h-1b-l-1-extension-fees-for-big-employers/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.