America proposes new US$103,265 H-1B visa fee, expanding charge beyond new arrivals

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new fee of $103,265 for H-1B visa petitions. This proposed charge would apply to every petition subject to the annual numerical cap of 85,000 visas, including those reserved for individuals with U.S. master's degrees or higher. Employers would pay this additional fee when filing a petition, on top of existing costs. This proposal could significantly increase the expense for companies hiring skilled foreign workers, with Chinese and Indian professionals expected to be disproportionately affected. The move occurs during a period of heightened competition for global tech talent between the U.S. and China, and amidst ongoing visa-related friction between the two nations.

The Trump administration has proposed a new rule to formalize a fee of $103,265 for H-1B work visas. This proposal, published in the US Federal Register, aims to make permanent a temporary fee that was previously blocked by court rulings. The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields. The proposed fee would significantly increase the cost of these visas, which are commonly used in the tech, education, and research sectors. The rule is now subject to a 30-day public comment period before the Department of Homeland Security can finalize it. This move follows previous legal challenges to a similar temporary fee imposed by the administration.