Breaking Down the $100K H-1B Visa Fee: Who Pays and Who's Exempt

No $100K Fee for H-1B Cases Filed before Sept 21 or for Re-entry by Current Visa Holders

Donald Trump, on Friday, announced that the H-1B visa fee will cost $100,000, stirring debate about the sustainability of tech professionals working under company-supported visas. Amidst confusion, the Trump administration has clarified that the new H-1B visa fee of $100,000 is a one-time charge, only for new petitions, and does not affect current visa holders.

The startling 9900% hike in visa fee has prompted US tech giants to warn visa holders to stay in the US or quickly return.

Clarification from The White House

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the newly imposed H-1B visa fee applies solely to new, prospective petitions that have not yet been filed.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that “The $100,000 is not an annual fee but a one-time payment applicable only when filing the petition.”

She added, “Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country will not be charged USD 100,000 to re-enter. H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation.”

Leavitt further emphasised that “The rule applies only to new visas, not renewals or current holders, and will first take effect in the next lottery cycle.”

More about H-1B Visa

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant programme allowing US-based companies to hire workers from other countries in specialised roles, such as IT, engineering, medicine, and science. Generally issued for three years, the H-1B visa, extendable to six, allows workers to legally live and work in the US while employed by the sponsoring company.

White House press secretary clarified that the new fee is payable only when the petition is submitted, and the applicants must produce the payment receipt of the $ 100,000 before filing an H-1B petition. Following the payment confirmation by the Secretary of State, petitions will only be approved.

Petitions without the payment will be rejected, and workers will be denied entry. Federal agencies must advise the President within 30 days of the next lottery on whether to extend the rule, which is currently valid for 12 months from September 21, 2025.

Since the beginning of the second term as the President of the US, Trump has announced a vast range of immigration crackdowns, including moves to limit legal immigration. The hike in the H-1B visa fees represents his significant effort to rework temporary employment visas, while expanding the American workforce in domestic organizations.