USCIS Implements H-1B and L-1 Fee Increase for Certain Employers

On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase filing fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. Affected employers are those whose U.S. workforce has 50 or more employees, of which more than 50 percent are H-1B or L-1 workers, including L-2 spouses with an EAD. Such employers must pay an additional filing fee of $2,000 for new H-1B petitions and $2,250 for new L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, 2010. The new filing fees apply to all cases in which the $500 fraud fee is also payable, and is in addition to all other existing fees. The new fee will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2014. No guidance is yet available as to how the new filing fee will be applied to blanket L cases filed at consular posts.