Trump Administration Proposes $103,265 Fee for H-1B Visas

The Trump administration proposed a new regulation on Monday to impose a $103,265 fee on employers filing cap-subject H-1B visa petitions for highly skilled foreign workers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security described the charge as a revenue mechanism to recover costs for agencies including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Administration officials stated the fee would discourage companies from hiring foreign workers when qualified Americans are available. This proposal follows a September 2025 proclamation by President Donald Trump that imposed a $100,000 fee, which a federal judge blocked in June following a lawsuit by 20 Democratic-led states.

While the previous fee is set to expire in September, the new proposed rule seeks to make the higher cost permanent. The measure faces expected legal challenges from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, unions, and Democratic-led states, who argue the fee is an unlawful tax imposed without congressional approval.