E-3 Legal and Filing Fees
When you sponsor an employee for E-3 status, U.S. Department of Labor regulations
require you, as the employer, to pay certain costs. These required fees cannot be charged to or reimbursed by the employee.
Legal Fees
All E-3 cases are prepared by the SUNY-approved immigration law firm.
- $1,650 — Legal fee for E-3 preparation
Your department is responsible for covering this cost.
Filing Fees
Filing requirements depend on how the employee applies for E-3 status:
- If the employee applies for an E-3 visa at a U.S. consulate, they will typically pay a visa application fee directly to the consulate
- If the employee applies for a change of status within the United States, USCIS filing fees apply
The immigration law firm will submit any required USCIS filing fees and invoice your department. You must pay these invoices within 30 days.
- $510 — USCIS Form I-129 filing fee (for change of status within the U.S.)
- $2,965 — Premium Processing (optional)
Premium Processing:
This is an optional service. USCIS will take action within 15 business days (either a decision or a request for additional information). If USCIS does not meet this timeline, the fee is refunded.
Premium Processing can be requested at the time of filing or added later if needed.
Additional Legal Costs
If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) or additional legal work is required:
- You will be notified in advance
- Additional legal fees may apply
Contact VIS
If you have questions about E-3 costs or would like to begin the process, contact: