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Academic Personnel

Visa Fees

Processing Fees

The Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF) charges a fee, payable by cost transfer invoice (CTI), for each visa request. An invoice will be sent to the budget contact listed on the visa request form once it has been conditionally approved by APF. The current fee structure is:

  • $562 visa request fee
    • For H-1Bs, E-3s, and TNs, this fee is charged once for each visa request. Units may not seek reimbursement of this fee from employees.
    • For J-1s, this fee is charged for each full year of sponsorship time requested, times the total number of DS-2019s issued based on the request. If a J visa request lists 2 years of sponsorship for one international scholar and 3 dependents, the fee will be charged 8 times for a total of $4,496. Requests to add J-2 dependents are also billed at this rate. Please note that the new UAW 4121 2023-25 tentative agreement prevents units from requesting reimbursement for J-1 visa fees from postdoctoral scholars. 
  • $105 amendment fee
    • For revisions to DS-2019s for J-1 exchange visitors. Please note that the new UAW 4121 2023-25 tentative agreement prevents units from requesting reimbursement for J-1 visa fees from postdoctoral scholars.
  • $140 hourly visa case management fee
    • For O-1 and EB-1B cases billed at an hourly rate. Units may not seek reimbursement of this fee from employees.

If you have questions about an invoice for visa request fees, please contact ISO.

Note: Only non-federal grant budgets may be used to pay for visa processing fees. This is in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions. For more information, contact Grant and Contract Accounting at GCAhelp@uw.edu.

USCIS Fees

Some visa requests require additional fees paid to the Department of Homeland Security. These fees must be paid to the Department of Homeland Security using either one check per fee, or one completed, signed Form G-1450 Authorization for Credit Card Transaction per fee. Do not combine fee amounts, as this will result in rejection of the petition by USCIS.

Units must send check or G-1450 payment for these fees to ISO at campus mailbox 351245 once the associated visa request has been conditionally approved. ISO will then forward payment to USCIS along with the relevant forms and supporting documents. DO NOT send payment directly to USCIS or DHS.

Note that checks from UW Procurement expire after 180 days, while credit cards used for Form G-1450 must be valid and active at the time of filing; contact ISO advisors for specific guidance on what fees are necessary when.

USCIS Fees Units Must Pay

The following are the required and optional USCIS fees for H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, and permanent residence sponsorships.

  • Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker Fees (For H-1B, TN, E-3 and O-1): This fee is required for all H-1B, TN, E-3, and O-1 visa requests. The fee amount differs by visa type.
    • H-1B Temporary Workers:
      • I-129 filing fee: This fee is $460 for H-1B temporary workers.
      • Fraud Prevention and Detection fee: Depending on the H-1B visa request type, USCIS may require this additional $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee. Must be submitted as a separate check. This fee does not apply to H-1B extensions or amendments, or to other visa types.
    • TN NAFTA Treaty Professionals and E-3 Australian Treaty Workers: This fee is $510 for these visa types.
    • O-1 Extraordinary Ability: This fee is $530 for this visa type.
  • I-140 Fee (For permanent residence):
    • The fee for the Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker is $715. This fee is only required for a certain step in the UW permanent residence sponsorship process. An ISO advisor will let you know if and when this fee is necessary.
  • Premium processing (optional):
    • For an additional $2,805, USCIS will process the petition within 15 business days. An ISO advisor will tell you if premium processing is necessary or recommended. Even if premium processing is not recommended, we encourage units to discuss this fee with the sponsored employee before making a decision. Note: This fee does not expedite processing with other government agencies or within UW.

Units may not seek reimbursement of any of these fees from employees.

USCIS Fees Units May Pay

  • Dependent filing fees: If ISO will submit an I-539 Application to Change/Extend Status with the H-1B, TN, E-3, or O-1 petition, that application must include the I-539 filing fee of $470. These fees are normally paid by the employee but may be paid by the unit.

How to Request Checks for USCIS Fees

Filing fee checks to the Department of Homeland Security must be requested through UW Procurement Services, who have provided the following guidance on how to request filing fee checks through Workday:

The US Department of Homeland Security payments are processed via the Supplier Invoice Request in Workday. Follow the directions below to request checks to be sent to campus mail:

In the Additional Information section:

    • Supplier Invoice number: Name of visa recipient (and visa request/RT ticket number, if possible)
    • Spend Category: SC2738 International Visa Processing Fee
    • Supplier: US Department of Homeland Security
    • In Payment Terms field box select: Immediate.
    • In the Reference Type field box select: Other.
    • In the Reference Number field box: type your campus box number, or Box 351245 to have checks mailed directly to ISO.
    • In the Handling Code field box select: Campus Mail
    • In the Memo field: Visa Type

Selecting Campus mail will ensure you receive 1 check per supplier invoice request.

Please contact Procurement Services at pcshelp@uw.edu with any questions you have regarding these instructions.  

  • When requesting checks from Procurement Services, please include the scholar’s name or the visa request ticket number on the check to ensure it is assigned to the appropriate visa request.
  • Once received, forward the checks to ISO along with the other supporting documentation, or have the checks sent directly to ISO.
  • ISO will send an email confirming receipt of any checks or Forms G-1450 that we receive.

Other Fees Payable to the Department of State

Employees may be required to pay additional fees charged by the U.S. consulate for the visa stamp, or the $220 SEVIS fee charged to J-1 exchange visitors by the Department of State. 

  • Under the UAW 4121 Postdoctoral Scholars collective bargaining agreement for 2023-2025, units must pay the $220 SEVIS fee, or reimburse the fee for postdoctoral scholars on J-1 visas who paid the fee after June 20, 2023.
  • Units may reimburse other international scholars for these fees, but are not required to do so.

Other Fees Payable to Customs and Border Protection

Employees applying for admission in TN status at a U.S. port of entry must pay a $56 TN processing and I-94 issuance fee. Units may reimburse scholars for this fee, but are not required to do so.