O-1 Visa: Costs & Fees

The O-1 visa for people with extraordinary ability is one of the most prestigious visas there is. The requirements are strict, but the rewards can be huge. If you qualify, you may be wondering what this coveted visa costs. Read on to find out what the O-1 filing fees are.

An alternative to the O-1 visa may be the H-1B visa and the H-1B visa lottery. You can find out exactly how it works here.

1Filing fees

First, a breakdown of the process so you can see the fee for each step. These are the mandatory O-1 fees (as of 2026):

• Base fee for Form I-129 (O category): $1,055 (small employers with up to 25 full-time employees and nonprofits: $530), plus the Asylum Program Fee of $600 (nonprofits $0, small employers $300). This fee is due every time the petition is filed, including extensions and amendments.
• DS-160 application fee (MRV, petition-based categories): $205

On top of the mandatory O-1 filing fees, other costs may come up, such as:

• Travel to and from the US embassy or consulate, and your trip to the USA once the visa is issued
• Attorney fees: the immigration attorneys on the firm's team charge a flat fee for the O-1 visa. You can find it on our website.

If you want to bring your spouse or children to the USA, they need to file Form I-539 when they are ready to extend their status. The filing fee for this form is $470 (online filing: $420).

2Premium processing

Good news: you don't have to wait six months for your I-129 petition. USCIS offers premium processing for $2,965, which cuts the wait for your I-129 petition from six months to 15 business days.

Important: premium processing is once again available for all I-129 categories, including the O-1 visa. Whether it's worth it in your case is best discussed with your attorney.

If you skip premium processing, expect a total of $1,260 in mandatory filing fees (I-129 $1,055 plus MRV $205), plus the Asylum Program Fee of up to $600. Depending on your situation and on whether you hire an immigration attorney, there may be additional costs.

3Refunds

USCIS generally does not issue refunds. It has stated, however, that in certain situations the O-1 filing fee can be refunded:

• If USCIS asked you for an unnecessary form that required a fee.
• If USCIS charged a higher fee than the one listed on its website.
• If USCIS does not process your I-129 petition within 15 business days of your paying the premium fee.

4How do you pay?

USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders or cashier's checks for paper filings. You pay by credit, debit or prepaid card with Form G-1450, or by direct debit from a US bank account with Form G-1650; online filings are paid through Pay.gov. A check is only possible with an exemption under Form G-1651. Talk to your immigration attorney about the best way to pay your filing fees.

5O-1 extension fees

As mentioned, a big advantage of the O-1 visa is that it can be extended indefinitely, as long as the work that brought you to the USA isn't finished. To extend or renew your visa, all you need is:

• A new I-129 petition and the O-1 filing fee of $1,055
• A copy of your I-94 arrival/departure record
• A written statement explaining why the extension is needed
• A Form I-539 and the $470 filing fee if your spouse or dependents also want to extend their visas.

6Can I change employers?

To transfer your O-1 status to a new employer, the new employer has to file a new I-129 petition along with the O-1 filing fee of $1,055.

7O-1 processing time

You're probably wondering how long your O-1 visa will take from start to finish. To answer that, we need to break down each step and estimate its processing time.

• The I-129 petition takes six months on average, though this depends heavily on how busy your service center is. With premium processing, it drops to 15 business days.
• You should also factor in the time it takes to gather and organize the evidence proving you qualify for the O-1 visa.
• If you are outside the USA and need to go through consular processing, your O-1 visa may take longer, depending on when the consulate or embassy schedules your interview.

For a better idea of your O-1 processing time, talk to your immigration attorney. For the full picture of the visa, see our O-1 guide, and you'll find all related articles in the O visa overview.

Mount Bonnell Advisors supports you with whatever you need: ongoing tax support for your US company, registering your business in another US state, payroll, building a professional website and much more.

You'll find the key terms and facts about US health insurance here and an overview of US health insurance here.

In short

• The base fee for the I-129 petition in the O category is $1,055 ($530 for small employers and nonprofits), plus the Asylum Program Fee of up to $600.
• If you apply for the visa abroad, you also pay the DS-160 application fee (MRV) of $205.
• Premium processing costs $2,965 and cuts I-129 processing to 15 business days.
• Extensions and employer changes each require a new I-129 with its fee; spouses and children extend with Form I-539 for $470.

How we help you

• Visa RoadmapIn writing: which visa fits you and your family, prepared with the immigration attorney on the firm's team.
• Visa and Green Card ConsultationWhich route to the USA fits you, settled in one conversation.
• Moving to the USAVisa, bank account, taxes and where to live: your move with Mount Bonnell Advisors.