Based on a September 2025 proclamation, the Trump administration introduced an unprecedented $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions to curb the hiring of foreign labor. This fee represents a massive increase from the previous average costs of $ 2 , 000 $ 2 , 0 0 0 to $ 5 , 000 $ 5 , 0 0 0 and applies to new, non-exempt applications.
The Trump administration upended the immigration and workforce strategy for many tech employers and other businesses when it recently announced that it would begin charging a $100,000 entry fee for each H-1B visa recipient.
President Donald Trump announced that his administration will impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The new fee went into effect as of September 21, 2025, and will greatly impact employers' ability to secure the highly educated foreign workers who come to the United States on the H-1B visa.
However, the H-1B program has long faced criticism over claims that it displaces American workers and suppresses wages. Citing this, President Donald Trump announced in late September a significant increase to the fee that employers must pay for new H-1B petitions.
The rule is another crucial step to strengthen the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. It is in line with other key changes the administration has made, such as the Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.
Even after President Trump issued a Proclamation last September requiring employers to pay a $100,000 fee for each new H-1B visa application, Appelbaum told his residency program directors to continue recruiting as usual.
Practically speaking, this fee only applies to employers who use an H-1B visa petition to bring a foreign national to the United States. Current employers of H-1 workers who wish to continue to employ this worker need not worry about this fee, and can instead file an extension of status petition.
During Donald Trump's first term, restrictive policy changes increased the denial rate for H-1B petitions for initial employment to 24% in FY 2018, 21% in FY 2019 and 13% in FY 2020 before a legal settlement in 2020 lowered denial rates below pre-Trump levels.
Foreign nationals needing a nonimmigrant U.S. visa (tourists, students, temporary workers) from non-visa waiver countries must pay the new $250 "visa integrity fee," in addition to other visa costs, when their visa is issued; it's a refundable deposit for compliant travelers, not for visa-waiver or Canadian visitors.
Executive Order 13771, signed by President Donald Trump in 2017, was a directive to reduce federal regulations by requiring agencies to repeal at least two existing rules for every new one issued and to keep the total cost of new regulations at or below zero for the fiscal year. It implemented a "one-in, two-out" policy, creating a regulatory budget and aiming to control and cut regulatory costs across the executive branch. This order was later rescinded by President Biden in 2021.
Citing this, President Donald Trump announced in late September a significant increase to the fee that employers must pay for new H-1B petitions. Some experts warn this change could harm the U.S. economy, undermine competitiveness with China, and drive highly skilled talent to other countries.
Additionally, the $100,000 fee will not apply to filings occurring after Sept. 21, 2025, that request an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay for an individual who has already been granted an H-1B visa (i.e., an H-1B beneficiary) and is eligible to extend his or her status in the United States.
The U.S. Department of State announced Jan. 14 that it will indefinitely pause processing for employment-based green card visas, as well as other immigrant visas, from 75 countries whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the country.
President Trump's illegal $100,000 H-1B visa fee creates unnecessary — and illegal — financial burdens on California public employers and other providers of vital services, exacerbating labor shortages in key sectors,” said Attorney General Bonta.
U.S. citizens can visit many countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival for short tourist stays (typically 30-90 days), including popular spots in Europe (Schengen Area), Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia and South America, often requiring just a passport and sometimes an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or eTA like Australia's ETA or the upcoming European ETIAS. Major destinations like Canada, Mexico, and the Schengen zone (most of Europe) allow stays of 90 days or less without a visa, while others like Japan, South Korea, and the UK are part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for longer, but still temporary, visits. Always check official government travel sites (like travel.state.gov) or country-specific embassy sites for the latest entry requirements before traveling, as rules change.
President Trump signed a proclamation on September 19 requiring employers to pay $100,000 to sponsor new H-1B petitions and creating restrictions on the entry of H-1B workers into the United States.
Based upon recent government memoranda, it is likely safe for employees who are beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions, holding valid H-1B visas to travel internationally.
For years, the system has relied almost entirely on chance. Going forward, salary level will directly influence the odds of selection. H-1B will no longer be just about luck—it will increasingly reflect how the government values different jobs within the U. S.
The H-1B "3-for-1 Rule" (or 3:1 Rule) is a USCIS regulation where three years of relevant, specialized work experience or training is considered equivalent to one year of college education, helping individuals qualify for a specialty occupation visa when they lack a full bachelor's degree. This rule allows applicants to meet the bachelor's degree requirement by demonstrating progressively responsible experience in the field, often requiring detailed documentation of theoretical and practical application of knowledge alongside peers with degrees.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sept. 19, which places a "restriction on entry" of certain (H-1B) nonimmigrant workers and a new $100,000 fee. The executive order went into effect at 12:01 a.m., Sept. 21, 2025, and will remain in effect through Sept.
There's no single H-1B minimum salary; it's the higher of the "Prevailing Wage" (set by the DOL for the job/location) or the employer's "Actual Wage" for similar roles, with four experience levels (I-IV) impacting the rate, though some rules allow $60k for "exempt" roles at certain employers, but new lottery rules prioritize higher salaries. Recent changes aim to significantly raise these levels, potentially making entry-level H-1B positions require much higher pay (e.g., over $200k in some areas) and giving higher-paid applicants a better chance in the lottery.