Form I-129 Filing Fee For TN Visa In September 2026: Current Cost And Fees

If a U.S. employer files Form I-129 for a TN worker in September 2026, the current Form I-129 filing fee is $1,015 for a standard employer. A separate $600 Asylum Program Fee generally applies, bringing the standard USCIS petition cost to $1,615 before any optional Premium Processing or other case-specific expenses. Qualifying small employers pay a reduced $510 Form I-129 fee and a $300 Asylum Program Fee, for a total of $810. Qualifying nonprofits pay $510 for Form I-129 and $0 for the Asylum Program Fee, for a total of $510. 

Premium Processing is optional and costs $2,965 for a TN Form I-129 request as of March 1, 2026. It is requested separately through Form I-907.

These are USCIS petition costs, not a single “TN visa fee.” A Mexican citizen applying for a TN visa also has a separate Department of State visa application fee, while eligible Canadian citizens generally do not need a TN visa and may seek TN classification when requesting admission at certain U.S. ports of entry.

Regardless of your filing route, securing objective proof that your role meets USMCA specialty standards is essential to protect your application investment. To establish authoritative evidentiary support before an adjudicator or border officer, you can hire our specialized agency to Get Professional TN Expert Opinion Letter Service tailored to your credentials.

How Much Is The Form I-129 Fee For TN In September 2026?

For September 2026, the Form I-129 fee for a TN petition is $1,015 for a regular petitioner. USCIS also lists a reduced $510 Form I-129 fee for qualifying small employers and nonprofits. The Asylum Program Fee is added separately at $600 for a regular petitioner, $300 for a qualifying small employer, and $0 for a qualifying nonprofit.

TN I-129 Filing Type	Form I-129 Fee	Asylum Program Fee	Base Total
Standard employer	$1,015	$600	$1,615
Qualifying small employer	$510	$300	$810
Qualifying nonprofit	$510	$0	$510

The $1,615 figure is the combined USCIS petition cost for a standard employer, not the TN visa fee. Premium Processing, consular visa costs, legal fees, and other case-specific expenses are separate.

USCIS’s Fee Schedule identifies the TN filing fee as $1,015, with a $510 reduced fee for qualifying small employers or nonprofits.

Form I-129 TN Filing Fee Breakdown

1. Form I-129 filing fee

The current TN-category Form I-129 fee is $1,015 for a standard petitioner. Qualifying small employers and qualifying nonprofits may use the reduced $510 fee.

2. Asylum Program Fee

The Asylum Program Fee is separate from the Form I-129 filing fee.

The current amounts are:

• Regular petitioner: $600
• Qualifying small employer: $300
• Qualifying nonprofit: $0

USCIS states that a small employer generally means an employer with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees in the United States, including applicable affiliates and subsidiaries.

3. Premium Processing

Premium Processing is an optional additional USCIS service. A TN petitioner requesting it uses Form I-907 and pays a separate fee.

As of March 1, 2026, the Premium Processing fee for TN and most other eligible Form I-129 classifications is $2,965.

It does not replace the Form I-129 filing fee or the Asylum Program Fee.

Is The Asylum Program Fee Required For A TN Petition?

Generally, yes, when the applicable Form I-129 petition is filed by a regular petitioner.

The current fee structure is:

Petitioner Type	Asylum Program Fee
Regular petitioner	$600
Qualifying small employer	$300
Qualifying nonprofit	$0

A qualifying small employer generally has 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees in the United States, including applicable affiliates and subsidiaries. USCIS may require evidence supporting the reduced fee.

The Asylum Program Fee should not be confused with other immigration fees. It is different from:

• ACWIA fees
• Fraud Prevention and Detection fees
• Premium Processing
• Department of State visa application fees

TN petitions should not be loaded with fees that apply specifically to other classifications, such as certain H-1B or L-1 fees.

TN Form I-129 Fee For Small Employers

A qualifying small employer receives reduced Form I-129 and Asylum Program Fee amounts.

For September 2026, the calculation is: 

$510 Form I-129 + $300 Asylum Program Fee = $810

The small-employer reduction is not based simply on calling a business a “small company” or “startup.” USCIS uses specific eligibility criteria, including the employee-count requirement.

Employers should verify their eligibility and keep appropriate supporting documentation before filing.

TN Form I-129 Fee For Nonprofit Organizations

Qualifying nonprofit organizations receive a reduced Form I-129 fee and do not pay the Asylum Program Fee.

The current calculation is:

$510 Form I-129 + $0 Asylum Program Fee = $510

Not every organization that describes itself as nonprofit automatically qualifies. USCIS identifies specific nonprofit categories and may require evidence of nonprofit status.

Is Premium Processing Included In The TN I-129 Fee?

No, premium Processing is a separate optional service.

For a standard employer, the September 2026 calculation would be:

$1,015 Form I-129 + $600 Asylum Program Fee + $2,965 Premium Processing = $4,580

For eligible small employers and nonprofits, the base petition costs are lower.

Cost	Standard Employer	Small Employer	Nonprofit
Form I-129	$1,015	$510	$510
Asylum Program Fee	$600	$300	$0
Base USCIS total	$1,615	$810	$510
Premium Processing	$2,965	$2,965	$2,965
Total with Premium Processing	$4,580	$3,775	$3,475

Premium Processing does not guarantee approval. It provides an expedited adjudication service for an eligible filing. USCIS uses Form I-907 for the request.

Does Every TN Applicant Need Form I-129?

No, the TN process differs based on the applicant’s nationality and the route used.

• Canadian citizens

An eligible Canadian citizen generally does not need to obtain a TN visa from a U.S. consulate before seeking admission. CBP states that Canadian citizens can establish TN eligibility when seeking admission at certain designated U.S. ports of entry or pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection locations.

This means the employer does not necessarily have to file Form I-129 before the Canadian worker seeks TN status.

An employer can still choose the USCIS petition route in an appropriate case.

• Mexican citizens

Mexican citizens generally need a TN visa. The process involves the Department of State and a U.S. embassy or consulate. CBP’s current guidance states that Mexican applicants complete the DS-160, pay the applicable visa application fee, schedule an interview, and present the required documentation.

The employer may also use the USCIS petition process where appropriate.

Who Pays The Form I-129 TN Filing Fee?

Form I-129 is generally filed by the petitioner, usually the employer in an employer-sponsored TN case.

The petitioner and beneficiary have different roles:

• Petitioner: generally the employer or other eligible entity submitting the petition.
• Beneficiary: the foreign worker who is seeking TN classification.
• Employer: often the same party as the petitioner in a TN employment case.

The fact that USCIS charges the petitioner does not mean every TN-related expense must always be paid by the employer or employee. Payment responsibility can depend on the type of expense and applicable employment-law requirements.

It is better to separate the USCIS filing requirement from the question of who ultimately bears a particular expense.   

TN Visa Fee vs Form I-129 Fee

The Form I-129 fee and TN visa application fee are different charges.

Cost	Paid To	Applies When
Form I-129 filing fee	USCIS	Employer files a TN petition
Asylum Program Fee	USCIS	Applicable I-129 petition
Premium Processing	USCIS	Optional expedited processing
Visa application fee	Department of State	Applicant uses a visa application route
Port-of-entry-related fee	Relevant U.S. authority	Only where applicable
Legal/professional fee	Private provider	If professional assistance is used

The Department of State currently lists $185 as the nonimmigrant visa application processing fee for TN/TD visas.

For Mexican nationals, the Department of State’s Mexico reciprocity schedule currently lists TN visa issuance fees of $79 for a 12-month visa or $357 for a 48-month visa, in addition to the visa application fee, subject to the applicable reciprocity rules.

These consular costs should not be added to the $1,615 USCIS petition total and called one TN filing fee.

Does A Canadian TN Applicant Have To Pay The I-129 Fee?

Not necessarily, an eligible Canadian citizen can generally seek TN classification when requesting admission at certain CBP-designated ports of entry or pre-clearance locations. CBP states that Canadian citizens are not required to apply for a TN visa at a U.S. consulate.

The two routes can be viewed this way:

Route	Form I-129 Required?	Visa Required?
Canadian TN at qualifying port of entry	Not necessarily	Generally no
USCIS petition route	Yes	Depends on nationality and circumstances
Mexican TN consular route	May involve USCIS petition	Yes

A Canadian employer may still choose to use Form I-129 rather than relying on direct admission processing.

TN I-129 Fee For Extension Or Change Of Status

Form I-129 can also be used for certain TN extension-of-stay and change-of-status requests.

When a new Form I-129 petition is required, the applicable filing fees generally apply again. That can include:

• Form I-129 filing fee
• Asylum Program Fee
• Premium Processing, if requested

An approved extension of TN status should not be confused with receiving a new visa stamp. Status and visa validity serve different purposes.

Is The Form I-129 TN Fee Refundable?

USCIS filing fees are generally not refundable simply because a petitioner later changes plans, withdraws a petition, or receives a denial.

A denial does not normally create a refund of the original filing fee.

Premium Processing has separate rules. USCIS can refund the Premium Processing fee if it fails to take the required adjudicative action within the applicable Premium Processing timeframe, subject to the rules and exceptions that apply.

A petitioner should check the current USCIS refund rules before relying on a potential refund.

What Happens If You Pay The Wrong I-129 Fee?

An incorrect fee can cause the filing to be rejected.

This is particularly relevant after fee changes because using an older fee amount can result in a filing being returned instead of accepted for processing.

Before submitting a TN petition:

1. Check the current USCIS Fee Schedule.
2. Confirm the TN classification.
3. Determine if the petitioner qualifies as a small employer or nonprofit.
4. Calculate the Asylum Program Fee.
5. Add Premium Processing only if it is being requested.
6. Confirm the payment method and amount.
7. Use the current Form I-129 edition and instructions.

Do not rely on an old filing package simply because a previous TN petition used a particular fee.

How to Check the Current Form I-129 Fee

USCIS directs petitioners to its Fee Schedule for current filing amounts.

Before filing:

Step 1: Open the current USCIS Fee Schedule.

Step 2: Locate Form I-129.

Step 3: Select the applicable TN classification.

Step 4: Check whether the petitioner qualifies as a small employer or nonprofit.

Step 5: Confirm the applicable Asylum Program Fee.

Step 6: Check the current Form I-907 Premium Processing fee if expedited processing is requested.

Step 7: Confirm the current Form I-129 edition and filing instructions.

USCIS’s current fee materials should take priority over fee amounts published on older immigration websites.

Processing Fee vs Visa Fee

The easiest way to separate the costs is:

Form I-129 fee = USCIS petition filing cost.

Asylum Program Fee = separate USCIS fee associated with applicable Form I-129 filings.

Premium Processing fee = optional USCIS expedited-processing cost.

Visa application fee = Department of State consular fee when a visa application is required.

These charges serve different purposes and should not be presented as one universal “TN visa fee.”

Explore L-1, O-1, and TN visa RFE defense strategies, recent approval statistics, and processing timelines in the guides below:

• L-1, O-1 & TN Visa RFEs: Common Triggers & Effective Response Plans
  Analyzes frequent Request for Evidence triggers across L-1, O-1, and TN nonimmigrant categories—such as specialized knowledge, extraordinary ability, and profession credential alignment—and details step-by-step response strategies.
• TN Visa Approval Rates 2026: USCIS Data, Border Trends & Success Factors
  Reviews current USCIS adjudication data and border filing trends for Canadian and Mexican professionals, highlighting key factors like job-title alignment and employer support letters that maximize approval odds.
• TN Visa Processing Time in September 2026: Current Wait Times
  Breaks down current wait times across application pathways, comparing direct Canadian port-of-entry processing, Mexican consular scheduling, and USCIS Form I-129 petition timelines (including 15-day Premium Processing).