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

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a $103,265 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, seeking to make permanent a charge that was temporarily introduced in September 2025 but blocked by a federal court.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security disclosed this proposal on a Monday in a regulation posted in the Federal Register, initiating a 30-day public comment period, with potential finalization by the end of 2026.

This fee would significantly increase the cost of the H-1B program, which is utilized by U.S. technology companies, universities, and research institutions to recruit foreign professionals. The program is capped at 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for foreign workers with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.

The proposed fee would apply to new H-1B petitions but not to renewals or certain foreign nationals already in the U.S. This proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration rules and increase scrutiny of foreign nationals.