2 hrs ago
Trump Extends $100,000 H-1B Fee Order Amid Court Challenges
The H-1B program lets some skilled people from other countries work in the United States.
President Donald Trump extended an order involving a much higher fee for certain new H-1B visas.
The fee is $100,000, while the earlier fee was about $2,000 to $5,000.
The order is scheduled to remain in place until September 21, 2027.
Some people already in the United States on student visas and people renewing visas are generally excluded.
A judge said the fee was unlawful and stopped the government from collecting it.
The government is appealing that decision.
Supporters say the program helps companies find skilled workers, while critics say some companies use it to hire cheaper foreign workers instead of Americans.
Indians could be especially affected because they received most approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024.
President Donald Trump extended the $100,000 fee order for certain new H-1B visas through September 21, 2027.
The White House said the restrictions address abuses and that the conditions behind them persist.
A federal judge ruled the fee unlawful in June and blocked collection; the government has appealed.
The fee generally excludes some students already in the United States and renewals of existing H-1B visas.
Indians are especially affected because they accounted for 71% of approved H-1B beneficiaries in fiscal year 2024.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, U.S. employers, foreign skilled workers, business groups, and groups challenging the fee.
- What
- An order imposing a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions was extended for another year.
- Where
- The policy applies to the United States, while courts including a Boston-based appeals court review its legality.
- When
- The extension was announced on Friday and keeps the policy in place until September 21, 2027; the original order was issued in September 2025.
- Why
- The White House says the extension addresses abuses and continuing conditions in the H-1B program; Trump also seeks to make the higher fee permanent.
Critics of the Fee and Program
Administration and Business Supporters
Effect on American workers
Critics of the Fee and Program
Critics argue that some companies use H-1B visas to hire lower-paid foreign workers instead of Americans.
Administration and Business Supporters
Business groups and companies say H-1B visas help recruit highly skilled professionals and address shortages of qualified U.S. workers.
Legality of the fee
Critics of the Fee and Program
A federal judge ruled that the fee was unlawful and blocked the government from collecting it.
Administration and Business Supporters
The Trump administration has extended the order and is appealing while seeking to make the higher fee permanent.
Effect on technology companies
Critics of the Fee and Program
Critics and affected businesses argue that the fee and related processing changes can disrupt hiring and expansion plans.
Administration and Business Supporters
The White House says the restrictions have been effective, citing a 92% decline in registrations from the largest information technology staffing and outsourcing firms and a shift toward higher-skilled, higher-paid applicants.
Key facts
- Fee amount
- $100,000 for certain H-1B visa petitions
- Earlier fee range
- Approximately $2,000 to $5,000
- Extension end date
- September 21, 2027
- Court status
- A federal judge ruled the fee unlawful in June and blocked its collection; the government appealed
- Indian beneficiaries
- People born in India accounted for 71% of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024
- Exemptions described
- The fee generally does not apply to some people already in the United States on student visas or to existing visa renewals
- Related proposal
- The Department of Homeland Security is pursuing a separate proposal for a roughly $103,000 fee on H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap
Quotes
The White House
The U.S. executive branch, which issued the statement about the H-1B policy.
“On September 19, 2025, Proclamation 10973 (Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers) (2025 Proclamation), was issued to address significant abuses of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program.”
livemint.com
“It is therefore in the interests of the United States to extend the 2025 Proclamation for an additional 12 months, until 12:00 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2027.”
livemint.com
Sources
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