The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is revising the regulatory language governing the 9/11 Response and Biometric Entry/Exit Fee for certain visa employers. The updated rules expand the fee requirement to include all extension-of-status petitions – including those involving no change of employer – whereas the fee previously applied only to initial H-1B or L-1 petitions and change-of-employer filings.
In June 2024, DHS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register to amend regulations for “certain H-1B and L-1 petitions,” soliciting public feedback on temporary non-immigrant worker applications. Congress originally established this supplemental fee for employers seeking specific visa classifications.
DHS has now issued a final rule expanding the conditions under which employers must pay the Biometric Entry/Exit Fee. Scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on August 10, 2026, the rule takes effect 30 days later on September 9, 2026.
The cost of qualifying petitions will not increase ($4,000 for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1). Furthermore, the fees apply only to “covered employers”, defined as companies with 50 or more U.S. employees or where more than 50% of the workforce holds H-1B or L-1 status.
DHS supports the regulatory revision to help fund its biometric entry/exit system, support border security initiatives, and invest in identity verification infrastructure.
With DHS expanding biometric fee mandates to support nationwide Entry/Exit infrastructure, the intersection of federal policy, border security, and verification tech is evolving rapidly.
Join leading stakeholders from government agencies, airport security, and biometric tech providers at Identity Week America 2026 to decode the operational and financial impact of these new frameworks.
Hear directly from our premier speaker line-up including:
- Christina Peach – Deputy Assistant Administrator, TSA
- Dr. Edward J. Mays – Deputy Assistant Commissioner, CBP / Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer
- Maurice Jenkins – Chief Innovation Officer, Miami International Airport
- Dave LaPorte – Chief Operating Officer, Denver International Airport
- Albert Van Veen – Chief Innovation Officer, Vancouver International Airport
Dive deep into seamless travel, frictionless passenger processing, and real-world biometric implementation across two days of unmatched content.
