Archive · 22 Aug 2026
H1B Fee Proposal Clears White House Regulatory Review
The US government is considering changing the fees employers pay for H1B work visa petitions.
The proposal was created by the Department of Homeland Security.
It passed an important review by a White House regulatory office.
This means it is closer to being made public and possibly put into effect.
The government has not yet explained exactly how the fees might change.
The proposal is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
Many Indian professionals use the H1B program to work in the United States.
They could be especially affected because Indians received most H1B approvals and renewals in 2025.
A Department of Homeland Security proposal could raise or change fees for H1B petitions.
The proposal, identified as RIM 1615-AD20, cleared the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Wednesday.
The DHS is expected to publish the regulation publicly in the coming weeks.
The proposal’s specific provisions remain undisclosed until the regulation is published.
Indian professionals could be significantly affected because they accounted for most H1B approvals and renewals in 2025.
- Who
- The Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and H1B workers and petitioners, particularly Indian professionals.
- What
- A proposal that could raise or otherwise change fees for H1B work-program petitions cleared a White House regulatory review.
- When
- The proposal cleared OIRA on Wednesday and is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
- Where
- The proposal concerns the United States H1B work visa program.
- Why
- The Donald Trump administration is overhauling the H1B program, including fees associated with petitions for H1B workers.
- Proposal identifier
- RIM 1615-AD20
- Agency proposing changes
- US Department of Homeland Security
- Reviewing office
- Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
- Possible change
- H1B petition fees could be raised or otherwise changed
- Publication status
- The proposal has not yet been published publicly
- Expected publication
- The Department of Homeland Security is expected to publish it in the coming weeks
- Potentially affected group
- Indian professionals, who accounted for most H1B approvals and renewals in 2025