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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

U.S. Proposes $100,000 Fee for Professional Visas, Plans to Cancel Asylum Seekers' Visas

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is proposing a new rule to charge over $100,000 for new H-1B professional visas.
  • This move aims to deter foreign students from seeking U.S. employment and could reduce international student enrollment.
  • The Trump administration is also preparing to cancel visas for up to 200,000 asylum seekers, intensifying its immigration policy ahead of the midterm elections.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is moving to institutionalize a fee exceeding $100,000 for new H-1B professional visa applications. This proposed regulation, detailed in the Federal Register, would require applicants to pay $103,265. The H-1B visa is typically issued to foreign professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields working for U.S. companies.

The government's move will be welcomed by China, India, and Europe.

— Charles KirkFormer President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, expressing concern about the U.S. losing top talent.

This significant fee increase, which employers would be responsible for, follows a proclamation by former President Donald Trump last September. While the rule is open for a 30-day public comment period before a potential finalization by year-end, it faces potential legal challenges. A Massachusetts federal court previously ruled that a similar fee imposed by presidential proclamation overstepped executive authority by enacting a de facto tax without congressional approval.

This law should be called the 'Policy to Promote Brain Drain in the United States'.

— James HollisMemphis immigration lawyer, criticizing the policy's impact on foreign student inflows.

The administration argues that raising the bar for highly skilled foreign workers will protect American jobs. However, critics warn that such measures could deter international students, who often seek H-1B visas after graduating from U.S. universities. Reports indicate a 10% drop in foreign student applications to U.S. universities this year, the largest decline in a decade. Charles Kirk, former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, expressed concern that the U.S. would lose top talent, stating, "The government's move will be welcomed by China, India, and Europe."

Imposing high fees to improve the quality of employment is the right direction. The key is whether there are legal issues.

— Mark KrikorianExecutive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies, commenting on the fee increase and legal challenges.

In parallel, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing to cancel the visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have entered the U.S. to seek asylum or are preparing to do so. According to AP, the State Department is readying measures to revoke commercial (B1) and tourist (B2) visas issued over the past decade to individuals who have applied or intend to apply for asylum. This intensified immigration policy is seen as an effort to rally support among the base ahead of the midterm elections.

The number of cancellations is fluid as the process is underway.

— Tommy PietruchaU.S. State Department spokesperson, commenting on the potential visa cancellations for asylum seekers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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