H-1B and L-1 Fee Increase
Congress has included a provision to increase H-1B and L-1 fees for highly skilled workers to fund the border enforcement measures mandated in the Southwest Border Security Bill (Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, HB 6080).
The bill, approved by the Senate on August 12, 2010, and signed into law by the President on August 13, 2010, raises the filing and fraud prevention and detection fees for L visas by $2,250 and H-1B visas by $2,000. The increase applies only to companies who have more than 50 employees in the U.S. and for whom more than 50 percent of those employees are in L or H-1B status. The filing fee increase ends on September 30, 2014, if not extended.
The H-1B category allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in professional positions that require at least a bachelor’s degree and establishes salary requirements for those workers. The L-1 category allows U.S. employers to transfer executives, managers and employees with specialized company knowledge from related companies abroad, including parent companies, subsidiaries, branch offices and certain joint ventures.
If you have any questions about the information in this advisory, please contact any member of the Immigration Group.