L1 Visa Costs and L1 Visa Fees

How Much Does an L1 Intercompany Transfer Visa Cost?

There are several costs when applying for an L1 visa. Some of these costs are hidden and are often not evident until later in the L visa process.

1. Unites States Government*

1. USCIS L1 Visa Fees

There are several costs involved in filing an I-129 Petition. These include:

i. I-129 Filing Fee.	USD 460.
ii. Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee.	USD 500.
iii. Optional Premium Processing Fee.	USD 2,500 (optional)
iv. Public Law 114-113 Fee.	USD 4,500*
* only applies if the business employs more than 50 people and half of those employees are in L-1A, L-1B, or H-1B status.



2. US State Department Visa Issuance Fees

i. Visa Application Fee DS160.	USD 190
ii. Visa reciprocity fee.	Varies by Country**
**This fee varies by the county of the applicant’s nationality. The fees can be found on the US State Department’s website . For example: Andorra has an L Visa Reciprocity fee of USD 59.00. The Singaporean L Visa Reciprocity fee is USD 0. The Indian L Visa Reciprocity Fee is USD 0. The L Visa Reciprocity fee for Australian Nationals is USD 1,790.00



3. State and Incorporation Fees



If you are forming a new U.S. business you may need to pay certain fees to State and local governments. These fees may include:

i. State Incorporation Fees	Vary by State. Typically, a few hundred Dollars
ii. Fees for any applicable permits or licenses needed to lawfully operate your business.	Vary by location and business.

*All US Government Fees are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change and should be checked on the USCIS website and DOS website.

2. Attorney Fees for L1A and L1B Visa Applications

There are often several types of lawyers involved in a successful L1 visa application process.

1. Immigration Lawyer Fees

Immigration lawyer fees for filing an L1-A petitions vary. In our experience these range from about USD 5,000 to USD 25,000 or more depending on law firm and scope of services involved.

2. U.S. Corporate Legal Fees

If you are opening a new business in the United States you will want to make sure that your business is properly incorporated. There are two considerations:

1. USCIS will expect to see your business has the typical and usual documentation, the extends way beyond basic formation documents.
2. You also need to protect your business interests as would any U.S. business person. Common documents drafted include:


1. Basic Formation Documents Approximately USD 2,500
2. Trademark Filings Varies
3. Employment Agreements Varies
4. Tax Registrations and Filings Varies


3. Non-U.S. Corporate Legal Fees

A well-prepared L-1 visa petition includes various legal opinions and corporate resolutions prepared on behalf of the non-U.S. business. This requires the assistance of a L1 Visa lawyer licensed in the applicable country.

3. Business Plan Fees

To obtain an L1A visa your business may require a business planned prepared to meet the rigorous L1 Visa requirements of U.S. immigration law.

4. Miscellaneous Fees

1. Travel and Meals. Travel to US consulate for visa issuance.
2. Overnight Delivery and Copying Fees. Allow approximately USD 500 for these fees. L1 visa petitions can be extremely long and printing and overnighting them can be extremely expensive.

How can I Minimize my L-1 Visa Costs?

Although filing fees cannot be avoided other costs can be minimized.

• Avoiding RFEs, NOIDs and Denials
1. Correcting RFEs, NOIDs and Denials is extremely costly.
2. Unfortunately, our firm often has to completely re-file L1 visa cases filed by other firms that have been denied. This usually entails more than doubling the cost of the initial L visa filing.
3. Good L-1 visa lawyers usually have lower RFE and
4. Avoid choosing the cheapest immigration lawyer, choose your lawyer based on quality.
• Choosing the Right Attorneys
1. Corporate lawyers can save a business owner extensive amounts of money. For example:
• a well drafted employment agreement can prevent former employees procuring a business’s clients
• Ensuring a business has all necessary permits and licenses can avoid large and costly fines.
• Failure to comply with US Government I9 record-keeping requirements can result in larges fines.
2. In addition to comparing fees compare the scope of services that each lawyer is providing for that fee.
3. All lawyers are not equal. Obtaining an approval the first time will save you considerable costs:
• Check a lawyer’s disciplinary record with the applicable State bar
• Ask for client references and check on-line reviews.
• Verify a lawyer’s law school and bar admissions
• Obtain Properly Drafted Corporate Documents
1. Improperly drafted corporate documentation can result in delays and fines
2. Ensure you