The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced an expansion of the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for specific H-1B and L-1 nonimmigrant visa petitions. Starting September 9, employers will be required to pay these fees not only for initial status grants but also for all extension of status petitions.
Under the new regulation, covered employers must pay USD 4,000 for H-1B visa extensions and USD 4,500 for L-1 visa extensions. This requirement applies regardless of whether the petition involves a change of employer or if the employee remains with their original company.
The fee mandate specifically targets employers with 50 or more employees in the United States, where more than 50 percent of the workforce is comprised of H-1B or L-1 visa holders. According to the Federal Register, this change corrects the department's interpretation of statutory language to ensure consistent fee collection for all covered petitions.
