Employment
Form I-129
Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Filed by U.S. employers to bring foreign workers to the U.S. temporarily under H-1B, L-1, O-1, P, TN, and other work visa categories.
- Filing fee
- $780
- Biometrics
- No fee
Who can file
- U.S. employers sponsoring H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, L-1, O-1, P, Q, R, TN workers
- Agents petitioning for O or P workers
Send with it
- Labor Condition Application (LCA) for H-1B
- Employer support letter detailing job duties
- Beneficiary credentials and qualifications
- Itinerary (for certain classifications)
- Company financial documents
Worth knowing
- H-1B is subject to annual cap - register during the lottery period in March
- Premium processing ($2,965) provides a 15 business-day decision
- O-1 requires extraordinary ability - prepare a strong petition letter
- L-1 requires one year of foreign employment with a qualifying organization
Common mistakes
- Missing the H-1B registration window
- Insufficient specialty occupation evidence for H-1B
- Not filing before the current authorization expires
- Inadequate evidence of extraordinary ability for O-1
Questions
- How much does Form I-129 cost?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-129 is $780.
- How long does Form I-129 take?
- Typically 2 to 8 months, depending on the office and the category. Check the current USCIS times for your office before you plan around it.
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.