H-1B visa shock: Trump admin proposes hiking fee to over $100,000
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a regulatory rule to formalize a $103,265 fee for certain H-1B visa petitions. This move follows a previous executive proclamation and faces ongoing legal challenges regarding its implementation.
Why it matters
The high cost of H-1B visas significantly impacts the ability of U.S. companies to hire international talent, particularly affecting the Indian tech workforce and global labor mobility.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed raising the fee for certain H-1B visa petitions to $103,265. The proposal, posted in the Federal Register on Monday, would turn the controversial $100,000 H-1B payment introduced by the Donald Trump administration last year into a formal regulatory requirement.The proposed rule will now enter a 30-day public comment period, after which DHS could finalise it by the end of the year.The move comes amid growing uncertainty around the H-1B programme, particularly for Indian professionals who account for the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries. From $100,000 fee to permanent ruleThe proposed $103,265 charge follows Trump's 2025 proclamation that imposed a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions. Although that proclamation is due to expire in September, it instructed DHS to pursue regulations that would make the payment permanent.The fee has already become the subject of a legal battle.
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