President Barack Obama signed into law Friday, Aug. 13, a bill that includes increase in fees for companies that employ professionals on H-1b and L visas.

H.R. 6080, which provides $600 million in emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 2010 to secure the Southwest border and enhance Federal border protection, law enforcement, and counternarcotics activities passed the Senate last week and was passed by the House without any amendment. Section 402 of the bill  includes an increase in fees by about $2,250 for L visas and by $2,000 for employees on H-1B visas. This increase applies to companies with 50 or more employees in the U.S. and that have more than 50% of their U.S. workforce on H-1B or L visas.

The bill takes effect immediately and ends in September 2014.