H1B Visa Fees and Costs associated with preparing, filing and processing H1B visa applications are normally ALL paid by the US Employer / Sponsor Company.
The standard H1B filing fee is for the 1-129 petition. This H1B fee is also payable for H1B extensions, H1B transfers, and amendments. Almost everyone has to pay this fee. There can also be additional H1B visa fees at the US consulate when applying from abroad.
The employer must pay a fee towards a training fee meant to fund the training of U.S. workers. But if the employer has less than 25 full-time employees, they must pay only one-half of the required fee [see Section §214(c)(9) of the Immigration & Nationality Act].
The training fee is paid one time to initially grant the H1B petition and to extend H1B status. But if this is the second or subsequent extension with the same employer, then the training fee is not required.
The following are exempt from the training fee: primary or secondary educational institutions, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations related to or affiliated with any institutions of higher education, a nonprofit organization that engages in established curriculum-related clinical training of students registered at any institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations or a governmental research organizations [see Section 214(c)(9)(A) of the Immigration & Nationality Act and 8 C.F.R. §2l4.2(h)(19)(iii)-(iv).
A $500 fraud prevention and detection fee is required for the initial H-1B petition or to switch employers. The fraud fee is not required for extensions with the same employer [see Section 214(c)(12) of the Immigration & Nationality Act].
Premium Processing - this fee is almost always worth every penny. Decisions are made within 15 business days by the USCIS. Your lawyer is provided a direct telephone number and email address for the office, and the specific officer, handling your matter (should any issue arise that needs attention). And if applicable, your familys H4 applications will be processed along with the primary H1B visa petition at no additional cost. Family members can apply as dependents of the primary H1B applicant. See Form I-539 for current fee.