Trump Imposes $100,000 Fee on New H-1B Visa Petitions

On September 19, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, up sharply from the previous $2,000-$5,000 range, effective September 21, 2025. The White House framed the fee as protecting American workers, though renewals and petitions filed before the deadline were exempted.

Critics said the program's existing safeguards against wage and hiring abuse, such as prevailing-wage rules and audits, already addressed the concerns cited, and that the fee mainly priced out startups, hospitals, universities, and smaller employers who rely on specialized foreign talent but cannot absorb a six-figure charge, while large corporations could pay it easily.

A coalition of businesses and organizations filed suit on October 3, 2025, arguing the proclamation exceeded executive authority and conflicted with the statute governing H-1B visas and the Administrative Procedure Act. The litigation remained pending as of this writing.