Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Trump Tightens H-1B Oversight and Renews $100,000 Visa Fee
The Trump administration is making some H-1B work visas harder and more expensive to obtain.
H-1B visas allow some foreign workers to work in the United States.
Government agencies must now look at whether a company has laid off similar American workers.
Certain visa applications will again require a $100,000 fee.
The administration says these steps will protect American workers and reduce misuse of the program.
It also says registrations by major IT outsourcing companies fell sharply after earlier restrictions.
Another rule will choose some visa applicants based on wage levels instead of random selection.
The administration is also investigating possible fraud and other practices it says unfairly favor visa holders.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order and proclamation tightening oversight of H-1B visa petitions.
Federal agencies must consider employers’ recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated US workers.
The administration renewed a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa applications, first imposed in September 2025.
The White House said H-1B registrations by major IT outsourcing firms fell 92% after the earlier proclamation.
A December 2025 rule replaced the randomized H-1B lottery with wage-based selection for fiscal year 2027.
- Who
- The Trump administration, President Donald Trump, and the US Departments of State, Labor, and Homeland Security.
- What
- The administration tightened H-1B oversight, renewed a $100,000 fee for certain petitions, and continued wage-based selection changes.
- When
- The executive order and proclamation were signed on Friday; the $100,000 fee was first imposed on September 19, 2025, and wage-based selection applies beginning in fiscal year 2027.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- The administration says the measures will improve program integrity, protect American workers, address alleged H-1B abuse, and support national security.
- Renewed fee
- $100,000 for certain H-1B visa applications
- Layoff review
- Agencies must consider recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated US workers
- IT outsourcing registrations
- The White House reported a 92% reduction after the 2025 proclamation
- Consular processing
- The White House reported a nearly 97% decrease in requests
- Selection system
- A December 2025 rule replaced the randomized lottery with wage-based selection
- Fiscal year 2027
- The administration said selections were determined by wage rather than chance
- Reported registration change
- H-1B registrations fell by almost 40% under the changed selection system
