Trump Administration Imposes $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee to Boost American Hiring
The Trump administration has introduced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa holders, aiming to encourage companies to prioritize hiring American workers over foreign labor.
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Overview
- The Trump administration has initiated a new policy targeting H-1B visa holders, introducing a substantial fee as part of its broader immigration and labor strategy.
- Under this new regulation, companies seeking to employ foreign workers through the H-1B visa program will now face a significant $100,000 charge per visa.
- This financial measure is specifically designed to encourage businesses operating within the United States to prioritize and increase the hiring of American citizens.
- The policy aims to shift employment practices, making it more economically favorable for companies to invest in the domestic workforce rather than relying on foreign labor.
- The move reflects the administration's stated goal of protecting American jobs and ensuring that U.S. workers are given preference in the job market.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the H-1B program as "grossly abused" by firms seeking to "cut costs," rather than attract "top talent." They advocate for reforms like a $100,000 fee to ensure "more deserving candidates" are approved, while dismissing "divisive politics" and simplistic "Trump is bad" narratives that hinder a "real discussion."
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FAQ
The new $100,000 fee applies to new H-1B visa petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, for beneficiaries who are outside the United States at the time of filing. Existing H-1B visa holders and those currently in the U.S. are not required to pay this fee. The fee is a one-time charge on new petitions only.
The primary goal of the $100,000 fee is to encourage U.S. companies to prioritize hiring American workers over foreign labor by making it more costly to employ new H-1B visa holders from outside the United States, thereby protecting American jobs and investing more in the domestic workforce.
It is not yet clear if the $100,000 fee applies to extensions, amendments, or change-of-employer petitions. The proclamation explicitly applies the fee to new petitions for beneficiaries outside the U.S., but further guidance from authorities is awaited to clarify its effect on later filings.
The restriction requiring the $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions for beneficiaries outside the U.S. is set to last for 12 months after the effective date of September 21, 2025, unless extended by further action.
Existing H-1B visa holders who are in the U.S. as of September 21, 2025, are not required to pay the fee and are permitted to travel to and from the U.S. However, guidance is not yet fully clear if re-entry would trigger the fee, pending further updates from USCIS.
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