Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee is unlawful, US judge rules
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- A US federal judge ruled that a $100,000 fee imposed by former President Donald Trump on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers is unlawful.
- The judge found the fee constituted an unauthorized tax, striking down the proclamation that significantly increased visa costs.
- The increased fees had discouraged applications, with only 85 payments of the $100,000 fee received by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A federal judge has invalidated a substantial fee imposed by former President Donald Trump on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, deeming it an unlawful tax. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston ruled Monday that the $100,000 fee, announced in September, exceeded presidential authority as Congress had not authorized such a tax.
The proclamation dramatically increased the cost of obtaining H-1B visas, which typically ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. This significant hike aimed to discourage applications for the visas, which grant 65,000 spots annually, with an additional 20,000 for advanced degree holders. The program allows visas for three to six years.
A lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general challenged the fee. Court filings indicated that by February 15, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had received only 85 payments of the $100,000 fee, underscoring its deterrent effect.
it constituted an unlawful tax that Congress never authorized.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Gulf Today. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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