The government charge depends on whether the applicant uses the port-of-entry procedure or the employer files Form I-129; current amounts are on the USCIS fee schedule. Professional fees, any credential evaluation and travel are separate lines that should be quoted before work starts.
Ask what each fee buys before agreeing to it
Separate the costs into four columns: the government's own charge for the procedure chosen, the professional fee for preparing the letter and reviewing the credential, third-party costs such as a credential evaluation or a certified translation, and travel to the port of entry or to the U.S. worksite. The port-of-entry route and the I-129 route carry different government charges and different timing, so the choice of procedure is also a cost decision; the employer often pays the petition route. Ask whether a quoted professional fee covers a second attempt if the first is refused, and whether it includes a review of the household's plans or only the principal applicant. An evaluation is worth buying only when the profession's rule or the officer's procedure requires it; ordering one by default adds cost without adding evidence. No fee at any level purchases admission.
Hypothetical example: an East Hants customs-compliance analyst receives two quotes that appear identical until one excludes transcript retrieval and a review of the employer's duty letter. Ask for a written list of included government, document, travel, and professional items, and identify which party pays each one. The practical decision is whether to spend first on the record that proves eligibility or on travel that depends on it. A refundable ticket may reduce commercial exposure, but it does not cure an incomplete application.