Trump Extends $100,000 H-1B Fee to 2027
US President Donald Trump has extended restrictions requiring a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B visa petitions for another year, keeping the measure in place until September 21, 2027. The administration says the policy is intended to curb alleged abuse of the skilled-worker visa programme and protect American jobs.
$100,000 H-1B Fee Extended for Another Year
The restriction applies primarily to H-1B workers outside the United States whose employers seek to bring them into the country. Employers must provide proof of the $100,000 payment before filing covered petitions, although national-interest exemptions can be granted by the Department of Homeland Security.
Existing H-1B holders renewing their visas and people changing status within the United States, including eligible international students moving from F-1 to H-1B status, are not generally covered by the fee requirement.
Trump Orders Greater H-1B Hiring Scrutiny
Trump also signed a separate executive order directing federal agencies to increase scrutiny of H-1B applications where hiring foreign workers could be linked to layoffs of American employees.
The administration says additional employment, wage and industry data will be shared between agencies to identify potential misuse of the programme.
H-1B Fee Faces Continuing Legal Challenge
The $100,000 requirement remains subject to court challenges. A federal judge ruled in June that the administration lacked legal authority to impose the fee in its existing form, and the government has appealed that decision.
The H-1B programme is widely used by US technology and other specialised industries to recruit skilled foreign professionals, making the extended restrictions particularly significant for companies dependent on overseas talent.
