Plan the cost of your seasonal crew.
A flat service fee per visa, a retainer that counts toward it, and a clear view of what to budget separately.
Estimate your service fee
$1,000 per visa
Estimated service fee
$10,000$3,500 minimum for crews of 1 to 3 workers.
Retainer included in the total. Non-refundable.
Service fee minus the retainer.
Service fee only. Government, travel, and operating costs are separate. Final scope and billing terms are set out in your engagement.
Understand your full budget.
Your service engagement
- Seasonal-need and filing-plan review
- Application preparation and case coordination
- Recruitment and consular coordination within the agreed scope
- Onboarding and compliance support within the agreed scope
Budget separately for
- Government petition and visa charges
- Consular support and transportation
- Wages, payroll, and applicable employer obligations
- Legal representation under a separate engagement
Know the commitment before you start.
The $3,000 retainer is non-refundable and is credited toward your service fee. Visa availability and government decisions can affect the outcome. Selection, approval, and arrival by a specific date are not guaranteed.
Understand payment timing before you commit.
The calculator uses the planned worker count. The signed engagement must identify the final billing basis and how changes to that count are handled. DOL certification and visa issuance are different milestones.
| Situation | Published payment rule | What to confirm in writing |
|---|---|---|
| You engage the team | The $3,000 non-refundable retainer is due and counts toward the total service fee. | The crew count, service scope and total estimate. |
| DOL certifies the case | The remaining service fee is due at DOL certification. | The certified worker count, any approved scope changes and the invoice amount. |
| No visas, or you stop before certification | The retainer remains non-refundable. The DOL certification milestone has not occurred. | Treatment of withdrawal, cap exclusion, completed work and any costs already incurred. |
| A visa is refused after DOL certification | The service-fee billing milestone occurs before the visa decision. A visa is not guaranteed. | The agreement’s treatment of later refusal and any applicable fee adjustment. |
| Fewer workers are requested, certified or issued visas | These are different counts. Do not assume the calculator automatically reconciles them. | Which count controls each invoice and how any reduction or partial outcome is settled. |
| Our substantive error causes a denial | The engagement provides for refunding service fees paid above the retainer when its company-error condition applies. | The condition, documentation and refund process in the engagement. |
Three separate parts of your budget
Our service fee
The published fee and payment milestones above. Your retainer is part of the total.
Pass-through expenses
Government, consular and transport costs are separate. Our current policy bills pass-throughs at cost only if visas are granted. That policy does not change when a government agency charges a fee; confirm who advances each expense and when you receive an invoice.
Running your season
Budget wages, applicable payroll costs, supervision, equipment, training and any lodging or local transportation you arrange. These operating costs are not included in the service estimate.
Your agent of record. Your business stays in control.
Connecting Labor USA is a consulting firm, not a law firm. We coordinate filings and the case calendar. You remain the employer and sign as the petitioner. Matters needing an attorney are handled by counsel under a separate engagement.
Explore the detailed H-2B process →Pricing questions
How is the service fee calculated?
$1,000 per visa, with a $3,500 minimum for crews of one to 3 workers. The estimate covers the service only; your engagement defines the final scope and billing basis.
When do I pay?
A $3,000 retainer is due at engagement and credited toward the total. The remaining service fee is due at DOL certification.
Is the retainer refundable?
The $3,000 retainer is non-refundable, including if you do not obtain visas. If a substantive error attributable to our company causes a denial, the engagement provides for refunding service fees paid beyond the retainer.
Which costs are separate?
Government charges, consular support, transportation, wages, and other employer costs are separate. Our current policy bills pass-through costs without markup only if visas are granted. Your engagement should explain invoice timing and which costs arise before a decision.
Are you a law firm?
Connecting Labor USA is a consulting firm, not a law firm. We coordinate filings and the case calendar. You remain the employer and sign as the petitioner. Matters needing an attorney are handled by counsel under a separate engagement.
Let’s talk through your crew and costs.
Tell us your crew size, roles, locations, and season dates. We’ll review the service fee and the costs outside it.