Fee Structure for H-1B Sponsored Faculty

The following outlines the financial responsibilities and procedures related to H-1B sponsorship and permanent residency for international faculty members at Southern.

H-1B Visa Expenses

All H-1B petition expenses are paid in full by Academic Affairs, through the Office of International Education (OIE). Covered fees include:

• Form I-129 Filing Fee: required for all H-1B petitions, $460.00 as of September 2025;
• Anti-Fraud Fee: required for initial petitions and transfers only, $500.00 as of September 2025;
• Premium Processing Fee: applied only to initial petitions to ensure timely approval, $2,805.00 as of September 2025

Total covered by Academic Affairs for initial petitions: $3,765.00

Note: Premium processing is not used for H-1B extensions. Faculty are authorized to continue employment for up to 240 days beyond their prior status expiration while an extension petition is pending with USCIS.

Fee Structure for Permanent Residency Applications (EB-1/EB-2)

Because the H-1B visa is limited to a maximum of six years, permanent residency sponsorship is required for faculty members who wish to continue employment beyond that period. The application process typically begins within the first year of employment to accommodate multi-year processing timelines.

EB-1-B: Outstanding Professors and Researchers

There are no Department of Labor fees associated with this residency pathway, and the University does not pay attorney fees associated with this pathway. However, the University may elect to provide partial funding toward attorney fees for faculty members recommended by the CSUS System-retained immigration attorney for EB-1 employment-based permanent residency who were born in countries impacted by the USCIS petition processing backlog (based off of the Visa Bulletin published on the U.S. Department of State website).

EB-2-A: Advanced Degree Professional

As sponsor, the University is obligated to pay fees associated with the DOL Labor Certification. These costs are shared equally among:

• Academic Affairs (via OIE)
• The Hiring Department
• The Dean’s Office

Each unit contributes $1,167.00, for a total of $3,500.00 (current as of September 2025).

Please consult the Office of International Education for additional information regarding the University’s H-1B and EB-1/EB-2 cost structure.

Information on USCIS filing fees can be found at this website.