USCIS Policy Alert on Fee Guidance for L-1 Intracompany Transferees

On October 27, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Alert PA-2026-16, updating the USCIS Policy Manual with new fee guidance for L-1 intracompany transferees. The update reflects the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visas final rule, which DHS published on August 10, 2026 and which took effect on September 9, 2026. For multinational employers that transfer executives, managers and specialized knowledge workers to the United States, the alert clarifies which fees apply to an L-1 petition and where to find the current amounts.

What Is the USCIS Policy Alert on L-1 Fee Guidance?

Policy Alert PA-2026-16 revises Volume 2 of the Policy Manual, which covers nonimmigrants and intracompany transferees. It does two main things. First, it updates the guidance to match the 9-11 Biometric Fee final rule. Second, it removes specific dollar amounts for certain L-1 fees and points petitioners to the official USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) instead. The guidance is effective September 9, 2026.

Background: The Public Law 114-113 Fee

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, known as Public Law 114-113, created an additional fee for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. For L-1A and L-1B petitions, the statutory amount is $4,500. This fee is also called the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee, or simply the 9-11 Biometric Fee. It is charged on top of the base filing fee, the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and any premium processing fee.

The fee generally applies to employers with 50 or more employees in the United States where more than 50 percent of those employees are in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status. USCIS Policy Manual guidance states that the fee remains in effect through September 30, 2027.

What Changed Under the 9-11 Biometric Fee Final Rule?

DHS published the final rule on August 10, 2026, with an effective date of September 9, 2026. Under the rule, the Public Law 114-113 fee applies to all L-1 petitions filed by covered employers within the period the fee is in force. The rule also codifies longstanding USCIS practice on how the fee is applied. The October 2026 policy alert brings the Policy Manual in line with this regulatory change, so petitioners and adjudicators are working from the same guidance.

The Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee for L-1 Petitions

The policy update also covers the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee, created by the L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2004. According to the current USCIS Fee Schedule, an L-1 petitioner must pay this $500 fee when the petition seeks initial approval of L-1 classification for a beneficiary, a change of status to L-1, or approval for an L-1 worker to continue employment with a different employer. The fee cannot be waived.

Fee Amounts Now Come from Form G-1055

One practical change is that the Policy Manual no longer lists specific dollar amounts for the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and the 9-11 Biometric Fee. Instead, it refers petitioners to the Fee Schedule, Form G-1055, for all amounts. The current edition of the schedule is dated October 26, 2026.

This matters because fees can change, and USCIS wants the fee schedule to be the single source of truth. Before filing any L-1 petition, check the edition date on Form G-1055 and confirm every fee that applies to your case. An incorrect fee payment can lead to delays or a rejected filing.

Which Petitions Are Affected?

The revised guidance is effective September 9, 2026, and applies to petitions postmarked on or after that date. It affects:

• New L-1A and L-1B petitions filed by covered employers.
• Change of status and change of employer filings to L-1 classification.
• Employers using blanket L petitions, who should review how the fees apply to their individual filings.

Petitions filed before the effective date continue to be handled under the rules that applied at the time of filing.

What L-1 Employers Should Do Now

Use the policy alert as a prompt to review your internal filing process:

• Check the fee schedule every time. Download the latest Form G-1055 before each filing instead of reusing amounts from an earlier petition.
• Confirm whether you are a covered employer. Count your U.S. employees and the share who hold H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status.
• Budget for the full cost. Include the base filing fee, the $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee, the Public Law 114-113 fee and premium processing, if you plan to use it.
• Watch the September 30, 2027 date. Employers planning future transfers should track whether the 9-11 Biometric Fee is extended.
• Train your HR and legal teams. Make sure the people preparing petitions know that fee amounts are no longer listed in the Policy Manual.

Final Thoughts

The USCIS policy alert on fee guidance for L-1 intracompany transferees does not create a new type of fee. It aligns the Policy Manual with the 9-11 Biometric Fee final rule and makes Form G-1055 the place to confirm current amounts. For employers, the main takeaway is simple: verify the fee schedule before every filing, and plan for the additional Public Law 114-113 fee if your company is covered.

Because L-1 fee rules depend on employer size, workforce composition and petition type, speak with an experienced immigration attorney before filing. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.