Immigration Fees
Updated May 19, 2023
Fee Responsibility
Tufts departments seeking to sponsor visiting scholars and/or employees are generally responsible for International Center processing fees and US government filing fees, if necessary. Please refer to the tables below for more specific fee breakdowns by visa category. However, the costs for self-funded visiting scholars in J-1 status may be paid by either the visiting scholar or the department, based on department policy. If the self-funded scholar is required to pay the fees, the scholar must be informed in advance by the department of this policy, and provided information about the associated costs.
The individual employee is generally responsible for fees associated with the production and delivery of personal documents, such as passport application fees; US consular visa fees; and fees relating to the translation and evaluation of foreign credentials, educational records, and licenses. The individual employee is also responsible for any costs associated with visa processes for accompanying dependents. For information about the costs of sponsoring employees for US permanent residents, refer to the section on Sponsoring Permanent Residents.
Fee Payment Methods
Fee payment methods will be paid
- International Center processing fees paid by the department will be paid by DeptID and billed on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The DeptID will be collected at the time the department makes a request for the individual visitor or employee.
- Any US government filing fees, primarily for H-1B petitions, will require a check issued to the US Department of Homeland Security - see instructions by visa category, below.
- Self-funded J-1 scholars who are paying the International Center J-1 processing fee directly should do so using Flywire. Scholars who are already in the US may pay by a US bank check made payable to "The Trustees of Tufts College".
- Tufts Medical Center departments sponsoring J-1 scholars should issue a check made payable to "The Trustees of Tufts College".
Refund Policy
International Center processing fees are final and non-refundable once the International Center issues a Form DS-2019 (for J-1 scholars) or Labor Condition Application (for H-1B temporary workers and E-3 Australian specialty occupation workers). Prior to the issuance of these documents, the sponsoring department may ask that a J-1 or H-1B request be withdrawn with no charge to the department or individual self-funded J-1 scholars.
Fee Schedule by Visa Category
| Fee Category | J-1 Initial or J-1 Transfer | J-1 Extension | Fee Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Center Processing Fee | $650 | $350 | Department or scholar - see below |
| I-901 SEVIS Fee | $220 | N/A | Scholar |
| DS-160 Visa Application Fee | $190 (if required) | $190 (if required) | Scholar |
- The International Center Processing Fee must be paid by the department unless the J-1 scholar is invited to Tufts on a self-funded, courtesy basis. For self-funded scholars, the department may elect to pay the fee or require the scholar to pay the fee directly to the International Center.
- The I-901 SEVIS fee is paid by the individual J-1 exchange visitor upon receiving a DS-2019 visa certificate from the International Center. Instructions will be provided by the International Center to the J-1 exchange visitor directly. The I-901 SEVIS fee is typically a one-time fee that is valid for the duration of the J-1 exchange visitor's program.
- The DS-160 visa application fee is paid by the individual J-1 exchange visitor when scheduling a visa appointment at a US consulate.
J-2 Dependents
There are no added costs for issuing visa certificates for accompanying J-2 dependent family members (including the legal spouse and/or unmarried children under 21). In addition, J-2 family members are not required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
| Fee Category | H-1B Initial or Transfer | H-1B Extension or Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| International Center Processing Fee | $1500 | $1500 |
| International Center Rush Processing Fee | $500 | $500 |
| USCIS Form I-129 Filing Fee | $460 (required) | $460 (required) |
| USCIS Fraud Prevention Fee | $500 (required) | N/A |
| USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing Fee | $2,500 (see below) | $2,500 (see below) |
- International Center processing fees must be paid by the department by DeptID in all cases. Rush processing fees are assessed if a petition request is received by the International Center with less than 90 days prior to the requested employment start date.
- The I-907 Premium Processing fee is used to expedite USCIS processing of H-1B petitions to within 15 days (standard processing can range from 4 - 8 months or longer). Premium processing may be required or strongly recommended for initial or transfer H-1B cases. For extensions, premium processing is optional unless the extension request has been pending with USCIS and the employee is nearing 240 days past the expiration of their previous status. Employees may also pay for the premium processing fee if faster processing is needed for personal, non-business related reasons.
In addition to the above costs, the H-1B employee may need to pay a DS-160 visa application fee (currently $190) if and when they need to apply for a visa at a US consulate, prior to entering the US as an H-1B employee.
H-4 Dependents
The immigration status and eligibility of H-4 dependents (including the legal spouse and/or unmarried children under 21) is the legal and financial responsibility of the H-1B employee. This applies to any processes relating to the initial arrival and extension of H-4 status for dependents.
E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers from Australia
E-3 Specialty Occupation workers may obtain E-3 status by applying for an E-3 visa at a US consulate in Australia. Prior to the visa application, Tufts is required to prepare a Labor Condition Application (LCA). Persons already in the US in another status or in E-3 status may also obtain E-3 status by filing USCIS Form I-129, which will be prepared by the International Center at the department's request. Contact the International Center for more details.
| Fee Category | E-3 (Labor Condition Application Only) | E-3 (Form I-129 Filings) |
|---|---|---|
| International Center Processing Fee | $750 | $1,500 |
| USCIS Form I-129 Filing Fee | N/A | $460 |
| USCIS Form I-901 Premium Processing Service | N/A | $2,500 |
TN status is available to professionals from Canada or Mexico coming to the US for pre-arranged professional or business activities.
In most cases, citizens of Canada can obtain TN status by presenting the appropriate documents at a port of entry (airport) or US border crossing to US Customs and Border Protection.
- The International Center charges $500 for preparation of a TN offer letter and other materials to be presented by the employee upon entering the US
- If a citizen of Canada is already in the US and wishes to obtain TN status by an in-country application, the department should expect to pay the following fees: $1,500 International Center processing fee, $460 Form I-129 filing fee, and $2,500 premium processing fee (if required)
For citizens of Mexico, the preparation of a Form I-129 application submitted to USCIS is required.
- Departments should expect to pay: $1,500 International Center processing fee, $460 Form I-129 filing fee, and $2,500 premium processing fee (if required)