What This Tool Calculates
Most H1B cost guides list filing fees and stop there. This calculator goes further by computing your risk-adjusted denial cost — the expected value of a denial event based on your sector's historical denial rate from USCIS adjudication data.
What's Included
- USCIS Filing Fees: Form I-129 ($730), ACWIA Training Fee ($1,500–$3,000 by employer size), Anti-Fraud Fee ($500), Asylum Program Fee ($600)
- Attorney Fees: Ranges from $4,000 (startups) to $7,500+ (large enterprises)
- Premium Processing: $2,805 for 15-business-day decision guarantee — and ~12% RFE probability reduction
- Denial Risk Cost: Your sector's denial rate × fees at risk — modeled as an expected value, not a vague fear
- OPT/Cap-Gap Risk: Added opportunity cost for F-1 students transitioning from OPT
- 6-Year Projection: Initial petition + 2 extensions = full H1B lifecycle cost
Denial Rates by Sector (USCIS Data)
- IT Consulting / Offshore Staffing: ~20% denial rate
- Tech Product Companies: ~4% denial rate
- Healthcare / Medical: ~6% denial rate
- Finance / Banking: ~5% denial rate
- Engineering / Manufacturing: ~7% denial rate
- Education / Nonprofit: ~2% denial rate (often cap-exempt)
- Legal / Professional Services: ~8% denial rate
Use This Calculator If You're...
- An employer deciding whether to sponsor your first H1B employee
- An HR team building a visa sponsorship budget
- An international student on OPT evaluating cap-gap risk
- A candidate asking an employer whether they'll cover premium processing
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