Archive · 25 Jul 2026
US Court Blocks Trump's $100K H-1B Visa Fee
A US court decided that the Trump administration cannot charge a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas.
The court said the administration did not have the legal power to impose this fee.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers.
Before this fee, companies paid much less to sponsor these workers.
The fee was introduced to stop companies from replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
The court's decision means the fee will not be enforced.
A US federal appeals court rejected Trump's bid to reinstate a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas.
The court upheld a lower court's decision that blocked the fee, citing lack of legal authority.
The fee was introduced by Trump to curb exploitation of the H-1B program.
The H-1B visa program allows US employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers.
The fee did not apply to foreign nationals already in the US on student visas.
- Who
- US federal appeals court, Trump administration, Democratic state attorneys general
- What
- Rejection of Trump's bid to reinstate a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas
- When
- July 25, 2026
- Where
- Washington, DC
- Why
- The court ruled that the administration had not shown it had the authority to impose the fee.
Trump Administration
Democratic State Attorneys General
Authority to Impose Fee
Trump Administration
The Trump administration argued it had the authority to impose the $100,000 fee to curb exploitation of the H-1B program.
Democratic State Attorneys General
The Democratic state attorneys general contended that the fee was an unlawful tax not authorized by Congress.
- Fee Amount
- $100,000
- Court
- First US Circuit Court of Appeals
- Previous Fee Range
- $2,000 to $5,000
- H-1B Visa Cap
- 65,000 (general) + 20,000 (advanced degrees)
- Date of Proclamation
- September 2026
- Judges' Appointments
- All three judges appointed by Democratic presidents