Trump Administration Proposes New $100K Fee for H-1B Visas

Companies that rely on skilled foreign workers may soon face a six-figure price tag per hire, the New York Times reports. The Trump administration on Monday floated a $103,265 fee on H-1B visa petitions subject to the annual cap, a sharp expansion of a $100,000 charge imposed last year on many overseas workers but later struck down by a federal judge. Last year's attempted fee only applied to some H-1B visas, but the newly proposed fee would apply to many more. As the Washington Post puts it: "Unlike last year's proposal, it would apply to many people who already reside in the United States, not just those submitting petitions from abroad."

Homeland Security says the move would generate about $8.8 billion a year to cover immigration-related costs across multiple agencies. Critics call it an attempt to revive the earlier fee and warn it could severely restrict access to global talent, especially for startups and smaller firms. A former US immigration official said the regulation could have "catastrophic effects" on the country's talent pipeline, while the US Chamber of Commerce argues it would price many US employers out of the program. The Wall Street Journal reports hospitals, universities, and other nonprofits would be exempt.