What the Latest H-1B Fee Hikes Mean for Your Workforce Strategy

Matt Ohm, AGG Global Mobility partner, authored an article for HR.com analyzing how the increase in H-1B visa premium processing fees is affecting organizations that sponsor foreign national employees.

Matt explains that, while the premium processing fee for H-1B petitions increased from $2,805 to $2,965, a 2025 presidential proclamation imposed a $100,000 supplemental fee on certain new H-1B petitions. With these developments, a single new H-1B case requiring consular processing can cost an employer more than $107,000 just in government fees.

Matt noted that HR teams should also be aware that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will reject any filing submitted with an incorrect premium processing fee, so even minor errors can result in costly delays.

“Build immigration filing costs and realistic processing timelines into your hiring budgets and onboarding schedules early,” he said.

Matt also elaborated on the variety of alternative visa options that are worth looking into, as different visa classifications might serve the same business objectives.

“For HR professionals, the strategic response is not to retreat from global talent but to get smarter about accessing it,” Matt said. “The organizations that treat immigration as an integrated part of their talent strategy, not just a compliance obligation, will be the ones best equipped to compete for the workers they need.”

To read the full article and understand how the H-1B fee hikes impact your international hiring, please click here.