Who Must Pay the Legal and Government Filing Fees

An overview of who is responsible for paying legal and government filing fees.

Updated 2026

H-1B

Employer's Obligations	Optional Employee Expenses
Filing Fee: $780 / $730 paper/online filing fee	Premium Processing Fee: $2,965
Filing Fee: 300 or $600 Asylum Program Fee (as applicable)	Educational Evaluations, Translations: At cost
Filing Fee: $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee	Dependent H-4 Filing Fee: $470 / $420 paper/online
Filing Fee: $4,000 Pub. Law 114-113 (as applicable)	Dependent H-4 Legal Fee: $750 ($950 if combined with I-765 EAD)
Filing Fee: $750 or $1,500 ACWIA Fee (as applicable)	Spouse’s I-765 EAD (if the principal has an approved I-140): Filing Fee: $520 / $470 paper/online
Legal Fee: $3,000-$4,000	Spouse’s I-765 EAD (if the principal has an approved I-140): Legal Fee: $750 (standalone EAD filing)

Employer's Obligations	Optional Employee Expenses
Recruitment/Advertising: At cost (average $1,500-$2,500)
Filing Fee: N/A
Legal Fee: $7,000

Employer's Obligations	Optional Employee Expenses
The employer typically pays the fees but has no legal obligation to do so.	Filing Fee: $715 / $665 paper/online
	Filing Fee: $300 or $600 Asylum Program Fee (as applicable)
	Premium Processing Fee: $2,965
	Legal Fee: $5,000-$20,000

Employer's Obligations	Optional Employee Expenses
The employer typically pays the fees but has no legal obligation to do so.	Filing Fee $1,440 / $1,390 paper/online
	Filing Fee: Dependents less than 14 years old: $950 / $900
	Legal Fee: $3,250 (Principal Applicant)
	Legal Fee: $2,750 (Spouse)
	Legal Fee: $2,250 (Dependent Child)

Government filing fees are always subject to change. We will do our best to provide you with the most accurate estimates

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