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SAINT-LAMBERT · L-1B FIELD GUIDE

Does visa exemption mean there are no immigration costs?

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THE DIRECT ANSWER

No. Identify the applicable petition or processing charges and professional preparation for the actual case. Do not assume all procedures have identical costs.

Budget by the actual process

Clarify required evidence, family steps and any translation or document work. Separate travel expenses from official charges. A passport’s nationality may affect procedure without eliminating the need for a complete L assessment.

An amended Form I-129 with the base L fee and any applicable asylum program fee on the USCIS schedule, plus optional premium processing. Ask what explanation and supporting records are needed, separately from professional review and official charges. Ask what record collection and time assessment are included in the professional scope, apart from current official charges. The petitioning affiliate pays the USCIS petition and related fees listed on Form G-1055; the client pays the affiliate under the services contract; the analyst is paid by the affiliate, not the client. Filing a thin petition and answering questions later usually costs more time than preparing properly first.

Premium processing shortens the wait at a published cost and does nothing for the strength of the file.