Immigration Management Software Pricing in 2026: What Employers Pay Per Case and Per Employee
Published 2026 immigration software and provider pricing, USCIS fees and a worked H-1B cost example for employers.
TL;DR
Employer immigration software costs anywhere from about EUR 799 a year for a software-only tracker to several thousand dollars per case when legal work is bundled in. For one U.S. H-1B cap case, published provider fees run $999 to $4,500, plus $3,380 in mandatory USCIS fees for a 26+ employee company. Premium processing adds $2,965 if you need speed.
- Four pricing models exist: software subscriptions (Jobbatical from EUR 799 a year), per-user case software (Docketwise from $80 per user a month, billed yearly), flat per-case tech-enabled firms (Gale, Alma, Lighthouse, Localyze) and quote-only flat per-matter programs (Envoy Global, Boundless).
- Published H-1B petition service fees on November 10, 2026: Gale $999, Localyze $3,350, Alma $3,500, Lighthouse $4,500 Standard. Registration fees differ too ($0, not listed, $500 and $1,000).
- Government fees are separate in every quote. USCIS Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26) lists the H-1B I-129 fee at $780 on paper or $730 online, before ACWIA, fraud and Asylum Program fees.
- No major employer-side provider publishes a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) price. Ask for monthly or program pricing only once you can share 12 months of case volume.
Immigration software pricing is what an employer pays for the tools, and usually the legal services, used to sponsor, file and track work visas and permits for employees. In 2026 most of the spend is per case, not per seat, and the government fees sit on top of every vendor price. This guide separates the layers so HR and finance can budget a real number.
How we priced this (last updated November 10, 2026). Written by Olivia Bennett. We read the public pricing pages of Envoy Global, Alma, Lighthouse, Gale, Localyze, Jobbatical and Docketwise, plus the USCIS Form G-1055 fee schedule (edition 10/26/26) and the USCIS H-1B and I-129 fee pages, all on November 10, 2026. Every dollar or euro figure below links to the page it came from. Where a provider does not publish a price, we say so instead of estimating. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Prices change; confirm a written quote before you commit.
How Much Does Immigration Management Software Cost in 2026?
It depends on whether you are buying software alone or software bundled with legal work. Software-only tools charge a subscription per year or per user. Tech-enabled immigration providers include their platform in a flat fee per case. Large global programs are usually quoted per matter. Here is what each model looked like on public pricing pages on November 10, 2026.
| Pricing model | Example providers | Published price (read Nov 10, 2026) | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software subscription for HR teams | Jobbatical | Basic EUR 799 per year; Pro EUR 2,999 per year; Enterprise custom | Visa workflows, case tracking, renewal alerts; HR user and entity limits by plan |
| Per-user case management software | Docketwise | $80, $100 or $120 per user per month billed yearly; $90, $120 or $140 billed monthly | Forms, case tracking, client portal; Human Resources Portal on Pro and above. Legal work not included |
| Flat fee per case (tech-enabled provider) | Gale, Alma, Lighthouse, Localyze | H-1B petition service fee $999 to $4,500 (table below) | Attorney review, case preparation, platform access; USCIS fees extra |
| Flat fee per matter, quote only | Envoy Global, Boundless, Deel Immigration | Not published | Envoy says fees are flat per matter, scaled to volume and complexity, with the platform included |
Our earlier roundup of immigration management software for employers found that most enterprise tools still quote privately. That remains true for Envoy Global, Fragomen and similar programs. What changed is that a growing group of tech-enabled providers now publish full rate cards, which gives HR a useful benchmark before any sales call.
What Are the Four Immigration Software Pricing Models?
Employers meet four models: an annual software subscription, a per-user license, a flat fee per case that bundles legal work, and a quoted flat fee per matter for larger programs. The right one depends on whether you already have immigration counsel and how many cases you file a year.
Software subscription (you keep your own counsel)
You pay a yearly fee for case tracking, document collection and expiry alerts, and you still pay a law firm or provider for each filing. Jobbatical lists Basic at EUR 799 per year (one country, up to 2 HR users, 1 entity) and Pro at EUR 2,999 per year (multi-country, up to 8 HR users, 2 entities), with Enterprise priced on request. This model fits HR teams that want visibility over a mostly European roster and already buy services case by case.
Per-user case management license
Case management platforms sold to law firms and in-house immigration teams charge per named user. Docketwise lists Basic at $80, Pro at $100 and Advanced at $120 per user per month on annual billing, or $90, $120 and $140 month to month, with unlimited cases. It suits companies with in-house immigration counsel or paralegals. For an HR team without lawyers, the license is only part of the cost, because someone still has to prepare and file each case.
Flat fee per case with legal work included
Tech-enabled providers publish one price per visa pathway that covers case preparation, attorney review and portal access. USCIS fees are passed through separately. This is now the most transparent model for U.S. work visas, and it is where published prices differ the most, as the fee table in the next section shows.
Quoted flat fee per matter for larger programs
Global programs are usually priced per matter after a scoping call. On its pricing page, Envoy Global says every case type has a defined flat fee, quoted to your program volume and complexity, that filing fees are always itemized separately, and that its pricing is not a subscription. It also states that its platform is included at no additional cost, while custom integrations are scoped separately. Our Envoy Global vs Lighthouse vs Boundless comparison covers how those three differ beyond price.
What Do Providers Charge Per Case? Published Fees Compared
Four providers publish U.S. per-case fees, and the same H-1B petition ranges from $999 to $4,500 in service fees before government costs. Read each column as the provider describes it: what is included and what counts as extra differs, so compare the full scope, not just the headline.
| Case type (service fee only) | Gale | Alma | Lighthouse (Standard) | Localyze (U.S., Assisted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H-1B cap registration | $0 | $500 | $1,000 | Not listed |
| H-1B petition (new / cap) | $999 | $3,500 | $4,500 | $3,350 (cap or transfer) |
| H-1B extension | $999 | $3,000 | Not listed separately | $3,350 |
| L-1 initial | $8,500 | $8,000 (initial or new office) | $5,000 | $4,650 (L-1A executive) to $5,850 (L-1A functional manager); $5,500 (L-1B) |
| O-1 new petition | $8,500 (O-1A) | $8,000 | $10,000 (O-1A/B) | $7,350 |
| TN | $2,000 | $3,000 (new, USCIS or border) | $3,500 | $3,350 (border or consular) |
| EB-2 NIW | $9,000 (I-140) + $4,000 (adjustment) | $10,000 | $15,000 | $11,550 (I-140) |
| Dependents | $500 per person | $700 per I-539 dependent | $470 dependent fee | $350 (I-539 filed with petition) |
| RFE responses | Usually included (vendor FAQ) | Included | No extra charge for preparing RFE responses | Extra: $585, $1,135 or $1,985 by tier |
Fee note: all figures were copied from each linked pricing page on November 10, 2026, and exclude USCIS filing fees unless stated. Lighthouse also lists a Plus plan with preferred pricing for companies of 25 or more full-time employees, through sales. Gale says companies filing more than 10 cases a year can request discounted per-petition rates. Alma says it offers monthly pricing models for Growth and Enterprise clients.
Gale: the lowest published H-1B petition fee
Gale publishes a $999 H-1B petition fee and a $0 cap registration fee, the lowest H-1B prices we found on a public rate card. Its pricing page says the fee combines Gale’s platform with review by a network attorney, and that government fees are passed through at cost with no markup. Gale states that it is not a law firm and that legal fees are paid separately to independent lawyers. Other pathways are priced closer to the market: O-1A and L-1 at $8,500, TN and E-3 at $2,000.
- Best for: startups and growth companies with a steady flow of H-1B petitions and transfers.
- Watch-outs: confirm which attorney is the attorney of record on each case, and what happens to fees if a case needs heavy evidence work.
Alma: flat per-visa fees with software included
Alma charges $3,500 for an H-1B cap or cap-exempt petition and $500 for lottery registration, with its software subscription, RFE and NOID responses and one free refile after an initial denial listed as included. Its pricing page also lists the O-1 at $8,000 new and $3,000 for extensions, PERM labor certification at $8,000 and EB-2 NIW at $10,000. USCIS fees and third-party costs such as education evaluations or translations are billed separately. Alma offers a 50/50 payment plan.
- Best for: teams that want a predictable all-in service fee and a vendor that handles migration from an existing provider.
- Watch-outs: monthly plans for larger companies are not published, so compare them against the per-visa list.
Lighthouse: published Standard fees for U.S. pathways
Lighthouse lists H-1B petitions at $4,500 and H-1B registration at $1,000 on its Standard plan. Its pricing page also shows TN at $3,500, L-1 at $5,000, O-1A/B at $10,000 and EB-2 NIW at $15,000. It does not charge extra for preparing RFE responses. Lighthouse notes that USCIS filing fees and premium processing are not included. Plus, aimed at companies with 25 or more full-time employees, adds a 12-hour SLA, consolidated billing and compliance support, with prices through sales.
- Best for: U.S.-heavy programs that value fast case preparation and a published fee for every pathway.
- Watch-outs: highest published H-1B fee of the four; ask what Plus pricing looks like at your volume.
Localyze: published per-case fees in Europe, the U.K. and the U.S.
Localyze is the only provider here that publishes per-case prices for Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. on one page. Its price list shows Assisted service in Germany at EUR 849 for a visa only and EUR 1,299 for a full relocation, U.K. visa-only cases at GBP 2,000, and a U.K. sponsor licence application at GBP 5,000. For the U.S., the list shows a $3,350 service fee for an H-1B cap or transfer petition next to $3,380 in government filing fees, for a $6,730 total. Its RFE tiers are charged extra. Localyze says no fees apply for consultations, software and storage within scope.
- Best for: European employers that move people across several EU countries and the U.K. and want per-case prices up front.
- Watch-outs: RFEs are extra, and self-managed software-only pricing is on request.
Jobbatical: software-only plans for HR teams
Jobbatical publishes yearly software plans: EUR 799 for Basic and EUR 2,999 for Pro. Per its platform pricing page, Basic covers a single country, up to 2 HR users and 1 entity, while Pro covers multiple countries, up to 8 HR users and 2 entities. AI immigration assessments, budgeting and compliance reporting sit in the Enterprise plan, priced on request. Immigration services for each case are quoted separately.
- Best for: HR teams that want a central tracker and renewal alerts across European markets at a known annual cost.
- Watch-outs: the subscription does not include filing work; budget case fees on top.
Docketwise: per-user software for in-house immigration teams
Docketwise charges per user, from $80 a month on annual billing, with unlimited cases. Its pricing page lists Pro at $100 and Advanced at $120 per user per month yearly. Pro adds e-filing, e-signatures and a Human Resources Portal. The software is built for immigration attorneys, so it fits employers with in-house counsel rather than HR teams that want the provider to do the filing.
- Best for: in-house immigration counsel or paralegal teams that file their own cases.
- Watch-outs: costs scale with headcount, and you still carry all preparation work.
What Does the U.S. Government Charge on Top?
USCIS fees are separate from every provider price above and are often as large as the service fee. The figures below come from the USCIS Form G-1055 fee schedule, edition 10/26/26, read on November 10, 2026. “Small employer” means 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| H-1B registration | $215 per beneficiary | Each cap registration (FY 2027 cap) |
| Form I-129, H-1B petition | $780 paper; $730 online; $460 small employer or nonprofit | Every H-1B or H-1B1 petition |
| ACWIA fee | $1,500 or $750, depending on how many workers the petitioner employs | Initial H-1B petitions, changes of employer and the first extension by the same employer |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection fee | $500 | Initial H-1B approval or a change of employer; also L-1 initial cases |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600; $300 small employer; $0 nonprofit | Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions |
| Public Law 114-113 fee | $4,000 (H-1B); $4,500 (L-1) | Employers with 50+ U.S. employees where more than half hold H-1B or L-1 status |
| Form I-129, L petition | $1,385 paper; $1,335 online; $695 small employer | Every L petition |
| Form I-129, O petition | $1,055 paper; $1,005 online; $530 small employer | Every O petition |
| Form I-129, E or TN petition | $1,015 paper; $965 online; $510 small employer | When filed with USCIS |
| Form I-140 | $715 paper; $665 online, plus the Asylum Program Fee | Employment-based green card petition |
| Premium processing (Form I-907) | $2,965 for H-1B, L-1, O, E, TN and Form I-140 petitions; $1,780 for H-2B or R | Optional, when you need faster USCIS action |
Is the $100,000 H-1B payment being charged right now?
As of November 10, 2026, USCIS says it is complying with a court order that vacated its guidance on the $100,000 payment, but it plans to collect the payment if that order is lifted. The September 19, 2025 proclamation requires the payment for certain new H-1B petitions filed after 12:01 a.m. Eastern on September 21, 2025. According to the USCIS H-1B page, a federal district court vacated the implementing guidance on June 8, 2026, and the First Circuit denied the government’s request for a stay on July 24, 2026. G-1055 still lists the payment. Check the USCIS page and your counsel before filing for anyone outside the United States.
One more 2026 change: a DHS final rule effective September 9, 2026 requires covered employers to pay the statutory 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee on all H-1B and L-1 petitions, except amendments that do not extend status, per the USCIS H and L filing fees page. Covered employers are those with 50 or more U.S. employees, more than half in H-1B or L-1 status.
What Does One H-1B Case Cost in Total?
For a company with 26 or more employees filing on paper without premium processing, one H-1B cap case costs about $4,594 to $9,095 all-in when you combine published provider fees with USCIS fees. The table adds registration, the I-129 petition fee, ACWIA, the fraud fee and the Asylum Program Fee ($3,595 in USCIS fees) to each provider’s published service and registration fees.
| Line item | Gale | Alma | Lighthouse (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider registration fee | $0 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Provider H-1B petition fee | $999 | $3,500 | $4,500 |
| USCIS registration | $215 | $215 | $215 |
| USCIS I-129 + ACWIA + fraud + asylum (paper) | $3,380 | $3,380 | $3,380 |
| Total before premium processing | $4,594 | $7,595 | $9,095 |
| With premium processing (+$2,965) | $7,559 | $10,560 | $12,060 |
Three adjustments move the total. A small employer pays $460 for the I-129, $750 ACWIA and a $300 Asylum Program Fee, which cuts the USCIS share to $2,225 including registration. Filing online saves $50 on the I-129. Dependents, evidence-heavy RFEs (extra at some providers) and education evaluations or translations add to it. Localyze, which lists the H-1B petition and government fees together, shows a $6,730 total before registration.
Software and admin costs follow the same pattern as other HR systems: the license is rarely the biggest number. Our guides to HR software pricing and the hidden costs of HR software explain how implementation and integration fees show up in other categories.
Which Pricing Model Fits Your Program?
Pick the model from your case volume and whether you already have immigration counsel, then shortlist providers that publish prices for your main case types.
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 U.S. cases a year, no immigration counsel | Flat fee per case: Gale, Alma or Lighthouse | Published per-pathway fees let finance budget before a sales call |
| Mostly H-1B petitions and transfers, cost is the main driver | Gale (lowest published H-1B fee) | $999 petition fee and $0 registration on the public rate card |
| Mixed visa types with frequent RFEs | Alma or Lighthouse | Both state that RFE response preparation is included |
| European moves across several EU countries plus the U.K. | Localyze or Jobbatical | Published per-case prices (Localyze) or a known annual software fee (Jobbatical) |
| In-house immigration counsel who file their own cases | Per-user software such as Docketwise | Unlimited cases for a per-user license |
| 50+ cases a year across many countries | Quote-based programs such as Envoy Global or Boundless | Flat per-matter quotes scaled to volume, platform included; see Fragomen alternatives for law-firm peers |
| You need to hire abroad without an entity | An employer of record, not an immigration tool | See EOR platforms for U.S. companies |
Do Immigration Providers Charge Per Employee Per Month?
Not publicly. None of the employer-side providers we reviewed publishes a PEPM rate. Envoy Global says its pricing is not a subscription. Alma offers monthly pricing for Growth and Enterprise clients without listing a figure. Jobbatical prices per year by HR users and entities, not by sponsored employees. If a vendor offers a monthly or PEPM program, translate it into an effective cost per case: divide 12 months of fees by the cases you expect to file, then compare that against the per-case rate cards above.
A PEPM or retainer model can make sense once volume is steady, because it smooths spend and can cover advisory work such as candidate assessments. It is risky in a quiet year, when you keep paying for capacity you do not use. Ask for a volume floor, a cap and a true-up clause before you sign.
Which Costs Are Usually Left Out of the Quote?
Most surprises come from items outside the headline fee: government fees, premium processing, dependents, RFEs and third-party documents. Use this list to check every quote line by line.
- USCIS and consular fees: itemized separately by every provider above.
- Premium processing: $2,965 per I-129 petition when you need faster action.
- Dependents: priced per person ($350 to $700 in service fees at the providers above), plus government fees.
- RFE responses: included at Alma and Lighthouse, usually included at Gale, extra at Localyze.
- Third-party costs: education evaluations, translations and courier fees. Alma includes administrative charges such as FedEx and printing, but bills evaluations and translations separately.
- PERM recruitment: job advertising for green card labor certification is a separate cost from the legal fee.
- Integrations: Envoy Global scopes custom integrations separately from its included platform. Ask every vendor whether HRIS sync is included. Our guide to HR integration platforms covers the connector options.
How Do You Get a Comparable Immigration Pricing Quote?
Send every provider the same case forecast and ask for the same line items, so quotes line up side by side. If HRIS sync matters to your team, also ask each provider to price any custom integration separately; our list of immigration firms with HRIS integration shows which ones include standard connectors.
- List expected cases for the next 12 months by type (H-1B new, transfer, extension, L-1, O-1, TN, green card steps) and country.
- Ask for the service fee per case type, with USCIS and third-party fees itemized separately.
- Ask what is included: RFEs, dependents, refiles after denial, consultations and employee questions.
- Confirm who the attorney of record is and whether that attorney is in-house, affiliated or independent.
- Ask for platform, user and integration fees in writing, including HRIS or ATS sync.
- Request volume pricing tiers and what happens if you file fewer cases than forecast.
- Ask for the policy on fee changes when USCIS fees or rules change mid-case.
If you are still choosing a provider type, compare firms in our Fragomen alternatives guide and plan relocation support with our list of global mobility relocation providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does immigration management software cost?
Software-only tools start around EUR 799 a year at Jobbatical or $80 per user a month at Docketwise on annual billing. Providers that bundle legal work charge per case instead, with published U.S. H-1B petition fees from $999 at Gale to $4,500 at Lighthouse. Enterprise programs such as Envoy Global quote flat per-matter fees privately. USCIS fees are always extra.
What does an H-1B cost an employer in total in 2026?
For a company with 26 or more employees filing on paper, USCIS fees are $3,595 including the $215 registration. Adding published provider fees gives about $4,594 at Gale, $7,595 at Alma and $9,095 at Lighthouse Standard. Premium processing adds $2,965. Small employers pay lower USCIS fees, about $2,225 including registration.
Is the $100,000 H-1B payment being charged?
As of November 10, 2026, USCIS says it is complying with a June 8, 2026 court order that vacated its guidance on the payment, after the First Circuit denied a stay on July 24, 2026. DHS says it still plans to collect the payment if the order is lifted. Check the USCIS H-1B page and your counsel before filing.
Do immigration providers charge per employee per month?
None of the employer-side providers we reviewed publishes a per-employee-per-month price. Envoy Global says its pricing is not a subscription, Alma offers monthly models for larger clients on request, and Jobbatical prices software by year. To compare a monthly offer, divide 12 months of fees by your expected cases and compare that with per-case rate cards.
Are RFE responses included in flat immigration fees?
It depends on the provider. Alma lists RFE and NOID responses as included, Lighthouse says it does not charge extra for preparing RFE responses, and Gale says they are usually included. Localyze charges RFEs separately in three tiers of $585, $1,135 and $1,985. Always confirm the RFE policy in writing before you sign.
Is software-only immigration case management cheaper than a tech-enabled provider?
The license is cheaper, but it covers only tracking and forms. With software such as Jobbatical or Docketwise you still pay a lawyer or provider to prepare and file each case. For HR teams without in-house counsel, a flat per-case provider often costs less in total because legal work, platform and support sit in one fee.
What should an immigration pricing quote include?
A useful quote lists the service fee per case type, USCIS and third-party fees separately, what is included (RFEs, dependents, refiles), the attorney of record, any platform or integration fees, and volume discounts. Send every provider the same 12-month case forecast so the quotes are directly comparable.
The Bottom Line: Budget Per Case, Not Per Seat
For most employers, immigration cost is a per-case number made of a provider fee plus government fees, and the platform is often included. Published rate cards from Gale, Alma, Lighthouse and Localyze now give HR a benchmark: $999 to $4,500 in service fees for an H-1B petition, plus $3,380 or more in USCIS fees. Software-only subscriptions make sense when you already have counsel. Quote-based programs make sense once volume is high and global. Build a 12-month case forecast, ask for the same line items from every provider, and re-check USCIS fees before you lock the budget.
Next reads: best immigration management software for employers, Envoy Global vs Lighthouse vs Boundless and the best Fragomen alternatives.
