US proposes $103,265 H-1B fee: Hiring set to become more costly
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B visa petitions. This move aims to create a new fee structure following legal challenges to previous presidential proclamations regarding visa costs.
Why it matters
The significant increase in costs for hiring foreign workers could drastically impact the recruitment strategies of US companies relying on international talent.
The Trump administration has proposed a new $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B petitions, as the earlier $100,000 payment imposed through a presidential proclamation in Sept 2025 has run into legal challenges and is set to expire next month (unless extended). The new proposal, however, is based on a different legal authority and would create a separate fee regime for cap-subject H-1B petitions.The draft proposal will be open for public comments and will take a few months for finalisation and implementation.The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed this new fee for every cap-subject H-1B application (termed as petition under US immigration laws) – this move will significantly raise the cost for employers seeking to hire foreign workers. It would be in addition to all existing H-1B filing and statutory fees.
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