Use the current USCIS fee schedule for the I-129 base fee and any associated charges, add premium processing only if the timeline genuinely needs it, and budget professional fees and the cost of preparing corporate evidence separately. Miscounting the year abroad can also create substantial idle-time costs for the manager and the business.
Where the money actually goes
Government charges are published in the USCIS fee schedule and change; the company should check the current figures for Form I-129 and any fraud-prevention or supplemental fees that apply to L petitions rather than rely on a number from a previous transfer. Premium processing is an optional additional charge that buys a decision window, not an approval. Beyond the government, the company will pay for legal preparation and for the time its own staff spend producing organisational charts, payroll extracts and closing documents.
Hypothetical example: a Lake Country packer that filed before the manager's year was complete paid the fees twice and lost a harvest season of management on the US side. Budgeting the calendar correctly is therefore the largest saving available. If the spouse wants an employment authorisation card for convenience, that is a separate application with its own fee.
Consular visa issuance for the manager and family, if required, is charged by the Department of State.