Trump administration proposes permanent $100,000-plus fee for H-1B visas

The Trump administration is moving to permanently establish an unprecedented fee of more than $100,000 for new H-1B visas, a program crucial for highly skilled foreign workers. This proposed regulation, released Monday, seeks to codify a fee that President Donald Trump first imposed temporarily last year but was subsequently blocked by courts.

“

The Trump administration has moved to permanently establish an unprecedented fee of more than $100,000 for new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers.

The H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields, is heavily relied upon by the tech, education, and research sectors. The proposed fee, set at $103,265 by the Department of Homeland Security, represents a dramatic increase from the typical $2,000 to $5,000 fees previously associated with the visas. This move is part of Trump's broader critique of the H-1B program, which he and other critics argue is exploited by companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.

“

The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers with training in specialty fields and offers 65,000 visas annually, with another 20,000 for workers with advanced degrees, approved for three to six years.

However, business groups and many companies contend that the visa program is vital for addressing a shortage of qualified American workers and for recruiting top global talent. The proposed regulation, published in the Federal Register, will undergo a 30-day public comment period before potentially being finalized by year's end. It faces significant opposition, with lawsuits already challenging the administration's authority to impose such fees without congressional approval.

“

Trump, a Republican, and other critics of the H-1B program say it is abused by many companies who replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour.