United States adds $4,000 fee for H-1B extensions starting Sept. 9

United States Adds $4,000 Fee on H-1B Extensions Sept. 9

The United States will require large visa-dependent employers to pay a $4,000 fee for routine H-1B renewals starting Sept. 9, 2026, closing a long-standing exemption for extension filings.

Extension fees expanded to renewals

Under the final rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security, the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee now applies to all extension-of-status filings. Previously, covered employers paid the surcharge only on initial petitions and changes of employer, leaving same-employer renewals exempt.

Starting Sept. 9, 2026, qualifying H-1B extension petitions incur a $4,000 fee, while L-1 extensions require $4,500. The rule applies to qualifying petitions filed on or after the effective date and runs through its statutory expiration on Sept. 30, 2027, unless Congress acts to extend it.

Covered employers and exemptions

The surcharge targets high-volume visa sponsors rather than standard employers. Companies must pay the fee only if they meet two statutory thresholds:

• Employ 50 or more workers in the United States.
• Maintain a U.S. workforce where more than 50% of employees hold H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status in aggregate.

Firms with fewer than 50 U.S. workers or workforces below the 50% threshold remain exempt from the fee for all petitions. Amended filings that don't request an extension of stay are also exempt. Tourists, independent remote workers on visitor status and applicants exploring general routes for working in the United States under categories like O-1, TN or E-2 are unaffected.

Practical impact on renewals

Employers are legally required to pay the fee and can't deduct the cost from an employee's wages. Still, the added expense sharply raises retention costs for large IT consultancies and outsourcing firms. Foreign professionals working for visa-dependent employers should anticipate stricter corporate scrutiny on contract extensions, as qualifying renewals filed after the deadline will cost companies thousands more per worker.