In a sweeping move unveiled on September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation instituting a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications. The administration says the hike is meant to address widespread “abuse” of the visa program, especially by IT outsourcing companies that allegedly use it to hire foreign professionals at lower wages in place of U.S. workers.
Under the new rules, only new applicants entering the next H-1B lottery cycle will be required to pay the $100,000 fee; holders renewing their visas or those who already have H-1B status will be exempt. The proclamation frames the adjustment as a necessary reform to protect U.S. labor markets and national security, with claims that current visa usage has suppressed wages and sidelined American STEM graduates.
The reaction from industry and foreign governments has been swift. Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon reportedly are scrambling to understand the implications for ongoing projects and existing employees, while visa holders outside the U.S. are undertaking urgent travel or returning to avoid being caught by the new rules. Meanwhile, critics — including immigration experts and former government officials — argue the fee is legally questionable and risks undermining the U.S.’s ability to attract global high-skill talent.
The $100,000 fee is set to go into effect starting late September 2025, with the restriction valid for 12 months initially. The administration emphasizes that petitions must be accompanied by the payment in order to be processed. As legal challenges loom, many are watching closely to see how this policy will reshape U.S. immigration, the tech sector, and cross-border labor flows in the coming year.
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