1. Home ›
  2. Departments ›
  3. Scholars and Employees ›
  4. Immigration Petition Fees by Visa Type

Immigration Petition Fees by Visa Type

The fees for filing a petition or applying for an immigration status in the U.S. vary widely and include government filing fees, legal fees, and shipping fees. It is important to understand whose responsibility it is to pay the various fees, and we have noted such in the chart below. 

Fees for the academic unit apply when the beneficiary is in the U.S. at the time of filing. The visa application fees for beneficiaries and dependents apply when the beneficiary and dependents are abroad and need to utilize consular processing or enter at a port of entry. 

The fees below do not include shipping fees or degree evaluation fees, which vary widely by petition type, but academic units are responsible for paying all shipping and evaluation fees. 

Responsibility for Visa Type Fees

Fees listed below are valid as of February 2024

Visa Type Academic Unit Responsibility Beneficiary Responsibility Dependent Responsibility
H-1B
  • Filing fee: $460
  • Fraud fee: $500 (transfers & initial petitions only)
  • Premium Processing fee (optional): $2805
  • Legal or ND Processing fees: $1000 to $2000*

If filed with USCIS:

I-539 filing fee: $370
TN

If filed with USCIS:

  • Filing fee: $460
  • Premium Processing fee (optional): $2805
  • *Legal or ND processing fees: $250 to $2250

Fees for Canadian citizens:

  • Immigration fee (paid at U.S. port of entry): $56

Fees for Mexican citizens: 

  • Visa application fee: $160

 

If filed with USCIS:

I-539 filing fee: $370

 
O-1
  • Filing fee: $460
  • Premium Processing fee (optional): $2805
  • *Legal fees: $3650 to $4250

If filed with USCIS:

I-539 filing fee: $370
E-3
  • Filing fee: $460
  • Premium Processing fee (optional): $2805
  • *Legal or ND processing fees: $250-2000
  • If filed with USCIS, I-539 filing fee: $370
  • If outside U.S., U.S. Visa application fee: $160
  • Visa reciprocity fee (varies by country)
B & ESTA  N/A

B-1/B-2

  • Visa application fee: $160

WB/WT (ESTA)

  • Visa Waiver Application fee: $21

B-1/B-2

  • Visa application fee: $160

WB/WT (ESTA)

  • Visa Waiver Application fee: $21
Permanent Resident (PR)
  • Filing fee: $700
  • Premium Processing fee (optional): $2805
  • Legal fees: $3000 - $3600

I-485 filing fees
I-485 legal fees

 I-485 filing fees
I-485 legal fees

J-1 Scholar

 N/A

Work authorization application: 
F-1 OPT N/A N/A
F-1 STEM OPT N/A N/A
F-1 CPT N/A N/A N/A
J-1 Academic Training N/A N/A N/A

*In some cases, additional legal fees will be incurred beyond the amounts stated above, including situations in which: 

  • the petition requires additional research to complete, or
  • USCIS issues a Request for Evidence that must be processed by external counsel

The academic unit is responsible to pay for all additional legal fees.  

In some cases, the transcripts and diplomas for non-U.S. institutions will need to be formally evaluated to ensure they align with U.S. credentials. These evaluations incur a fee of $75-200, and departments are responsible for covering the fees. 

For more information about the Permanent Resident (PR) processes and fees, contact ISSA at issa@nd.edu.