DHS Imposes $4,000 Biometric Fee on H-1B, $4,500 on L-1 Extensions in 2026
Starting Sept 9, 2026, DHS charges $4,000 for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1 visa extensions biometric fees.
Why it matters: Legal teams handling visa sponsorships must navigate new, substantial biometric fees and tighter compliance for large employers. This affects budgeting, filing, and risk management for foreign worker petitions.
- The $4,000 biometric fee applies to H-1B extension-of-status petitions from covered employers.
- L-1 extensions incur a $4,500 biometric fee under the new DHS rule effective Sept 9, 2026.
- Covered employers have 50+ U.S. employees, with over 50% on H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B visas.
- Fees apply only to extension petitions, not to amended petitions without extensions.
On August 10, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule expanding biometric fee requirements to certain H-1B and L-1 extension-of-status petitions filed by covered employers. Covered employers are defined as companies with at least 50 employees in the U.S., where more than half hold H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B visas.
The rule takes effect on September 9, 2026 and is scheduled through September 30, 2027, pending congressional action. It mandates a $4,000 biometric fee for H-1B extension petitions and a $4,500 fee for L-1 extension petitions. This fee increase is substantial compared to prior biometric fees, which were typically in the several hundred-dollar range.
The fee applies exclusively to extension-of-status petitions; amended petitions not requesting extensions remain exempt. DHS indicates these fees support the biometric entry-exit system designed to enhance border security and identity verification.
For legal professionals and corporate immigration teams, this change means higher direct costs on extension filings and additional compliance management to ensure proper fee payment and documentation. It also adds administrative complexity for large employers sponsoring significant numbers of visa holders.
DHS projects this expansion will generate approximately $37.9 million in fiscal year 2026 and $40 million in fiscal year 2027 to bolster biometric security infrastructure. Beyond the DHS announcement, independent verification of projected impacts remains limited, underscoring the importance for legal teams to monitor further federal updates.
More details on biometric fees and the entry-exit program are available on DHS’s biometric entry-exit page.
By the numbers:
- $4,000 — biometric fee for H-1B extension-of-status petitions starting Sept 9, 2026
- $4,500 — biometric fee for L-1 extension-of-status petitions starting Sept 9, 2026
- $37.9 million — DHS's estimated additional revenue from this fee expansion in FY 2026
Yes, but: While this rule raises fees for covered employers with large visa populations, smaller employers and new visa applications remain unaffected, limiting its scope.
What's next: Legal teams should prepare for implementation on September 9, 2026, and track potential congressional actions that may extend or modify the fee's duration beyond September 2027.