Form I-129 Filing Fee: $510–$1,385 by Classification
Form I-129 — Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Is your copy the right edition?
Type the edition date printed at the bottom of any page of your form. We compare it with the editions USCIS accepts for a filing posted today.
Check every field of this form — free → One error shown free · $39 for the rest
The USCIS filing fee for Form I-129 is $510–$1,385 depending on the visa classification. Filing through a USCIS online account saves $50, but only on the classifications the fee schedule prices separately: H-1B / H-1B1 (regular petitioner) ($730 online vs $780 paper) and E-1 / E-2 / E-3 / TN, H-3, P, Q ($965 online vs $1,015 paper) and O ($1,005 online vs $1,055 paper) and L ($1,335 online vs $1,385 paper). R is listed at a single fee with no online/paper split. This is the USCIS filing fee only: it does not include attorney fees, premium processing, or fees collected by the Department of State.
An employer's petition to hire a foreign worker temporarily in a nonimmigrant classification (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and others).
How much is the Form I-129 filing fee?
H-1B/H-1B1 petition, regular petitioner. Other classifications differ: E-1/E-2/E-3/TN, H-3, P and Q $1,015 paper / $965 online; O $1,055 paper / $1,005 online; L $1,385 paper / $1,335 online; R $510; small employers and nonprofits pay reduced base fees. Most petitioners also owe an Asylum Program Fee ($600 regular / $300 small employer / $0 nonprofit). Covered employers — 50 or more employees in the United States with more than 50 percent in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status — also owe the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee of $4,000 (H-1B) or $4,500 (L-1) on every petition including extensions of status, for petitions postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Sept. 9, 2026; it does not apply to an amended petition that does not seek to extend the beneficiary’s current H-1B or L-1 status. G-1055 edition 10/07/26 still describes only the narrower Pub. L. 114-113 trigger — the 50-percent workforce test with its Sept. 30, 2027 sunset — so the broader rule above is not on the fee schedule and was verified against the statute, not against G-1055.
| Visa classification | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| H-1B / H-1B1 (regular petitioner) | $730 online / $780 paper |
| E-1 / E-2 / E-3 / TN, H-3, P, Q | $965 online / $1,015 paper |
| O | $1,005 online / $1,055 paper |
| L | $1,335 online / $1,385 paper |
| R | $510 |
Small employers and nonprofits pay reduced base fees. Most petitioners also owe an Asylum Program Fee on top of the base fee: $600 regular, $300 small employer, $0 nonprofit.
I-129 filing fee in detail → · Add this to the fee calculator → · Official USCIS calculator
Filing fees taken from USCIS Form G-1055 (the fee schedule), fee-schedule edition 10/07/26, last checked 2026-10-08. Fees change frequently — confirm your exact total on uscis.gov before filing.
Which edition of Form I-129 is current?
USCIS accepts more than one edition of Form I-129 right now — 09/09/26 and 02/27/26. Any other edition is an automatic rejection. The date is printed at the bottom of every page, and all pages must come from the SAME edition even though two are acceptable. This changes on Nov. 9, 2026: from that date only 09/09/26 is accepted. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file and check the date again.
USCIS published the 09/09/26 edition on 2026-09-09 to match the H-1B and L-1 Visas final rule effective the same day. Verified 2026-09-09 against uscis.gov/i-129 and the live i-129.pdf (38 pages, all footers 09/09/26).
Two different dates — don't mix them up. 09/09/26 is Form I-129's own edition date, printed on the form. 10/07/26 is the edition of USCIS Form G-1055, the fee schedule the amounts above come from. They are two separate documents that change on separate timetables; only the 09/09/26 date is what USCIS checks on your form.
Who files Form I-129?
U.S. employers sponsoring a temporary foreign worker.
Most common I-129 mistakes that cause rejections
USCIS rejects or issues a Request for Evidence on filings every day for small, fixable errors. These are the immigration errors USCIS rejects forms for across every form type; for I-129, the ones we see most often are:
- Using the wrong classification supplement for the visa type.
- Labor Condition Application (LCA) problems for H-1B petitions.
- Missing the authorized employer signature.
- Fee errors — omitting the Asylum Program Fee or classification-specific fees.
See a real error on your I-129 — free
Upload your completed I-129 and FormGuard reads it line by line in about a minute. Your risk level and the number of issues it found are shown to you first, free. $39, one time, unlocks the full report — every issue, where it is, and how to fix it. (A scanned PDF longer than 3 pages skips the free preview and goes straight to the paid report.) Your file is analyzed and never stored.
See a real error in my I-129 — free →Prefer to check it yourself? Use the I-129 pre-filing error checklist — or take the free 2-minute "will USCIS reject my I-129?" quiz. New here? See how the USCIS form error check works.
How to file Form I-129 without getting rejected
- Use the current edition. USCIS rejects outdated editions — check the date printed at the bottom of the form (it should read 09/09/26 — 02/27/26 also accepted until Nov. 9, 2026) against uscis.gov.
- Answer every field. Write “N/A” or “None” instead of leaving anything blank — blanks are a leading rejection cause.
- Be consistent. Your name, A-Number, and dates must match exactly across every form and supporting document.
- Sign and date by hand. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper I-129. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not. Electronic signatures count only when captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. Under the DHS signature rule effective 07/10/2026, an invalid signature on a paper filing can be denied — USCIS keeps the filing fee and there is no opportunity to cure — not merely rejected.
- Translate foreign documents. Include a complete certified English translation of anything not in English.
- Pay the exact fee. Use the fee calculator and confirm on uscis.gov — the wrong amount gets the package returned.
Related forms
Related guides
Form I-129 — frequently asked questions
How much is the Form I-129 filing fee?
The USCIS filing fee for I-129 depends on the visa classification: H-1B / H-1B1 (regular petitioner) $730 online / $780 paper; E-1 / E-2 / E-3 / TN, H-3, P, Q $965 online / $1,015 paper; O $1,005 online / $1,055 paper; L $1,335 online / $1,385 paper; R $510. Small employers and nonprofits pay reduced base fees. Most petitioners also owe an Asylum Program Fee on top of the base fee: $600 regular, $300 small employer, $0 nonprofit. These are the figures on the current G-1055 schedule (edition 10/07/26). Always confirm at the official USCIS fee calculator before filing.
Can I file Form I-129 online?
Filing through a USCIS online account saves $50, but only on the classifications the fee schedule prices separately: H-1B / H-1B1 (regular petitioner) ($730 online vs $780 paper) and E-1 / E-2 / E-3 / TN, H-3, P, Q ($965 online vs $1,015 paper) and O ($1,005 online vs $1,055 paper) and L ($1,335 online vs $1,385 paper). R is listed at a single fee with no online/paper split. USCIS changes which forms and categories it accepts online, so check uscis.gov for the current filing options for your situation before you file.
Which edition of Form I-129 is current?
USCIS accepts more than one edition of Form I-129 right now — 09/09/26 and 02/27/26. Any other edition is an automatic rejection. The date is printed at the bottom of every page, and all pages must come from the SAME edition even though two are acceptable. This changes on Nov. 9, 2026: from that date only 09/09/26 is accepted. Note that this is the form's own edition date and is different from the 10/07/26 edition of USCIS Form G-1055, the fee schedule the fees on this page come from.
What happens if my I-129 is rejected?
USCIS returns rejected forms without processing them, and filing fees are generally non-refundable — so you lose time and may have to pay again. Most rejections come from small, avoidable errors, which is why a pre-filing review is worth it.
FormGuard is a private, independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or any U.S. government agency. FormGuard is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page provides general information only; fees and form requirements come from published USCIS sources and change frequently — always verify current details at the official government website, uscis.gov, and consult a licensed immigration attorney for complex matters.