US Proposes Raising H-1B Visa Fee to Over US$103,000

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has put forth a proposal to dramatically increase the filing fee for H-1B work visas, with the new fee potentially exceeding $103,000. This substantial proposed charge, detailed in an unreleased document obtained by RIA Novosti, would be levied at the time of registration for all H-1B visa applications.

According to the document, this significant fee is intended to offset a portion of the costs associated with processing these visas. It is important to note that this proposed amount would be charged on top of all other existing fees and payments required for H-1B filings. The H-1B visa category is designed for U.S. employers seeking to hire foreign nationals for specialized professions that require exceptional aptitude and ability, as determined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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The Department of Homeland Security proposes setting a fee of US$103,265, payable at the time of registration, for all H-1B visa filings.

This proposed fee hike occurs amidst a period of heightened scrutiny for the H-1B program. Previously, in June, a U.S. federal judge ruled that a $100,000 fee set by the Trump administration was an unlawful tax levy. More recently, in July, Vice President JD Vance announced that the Department of Labor was investigating numerous allegations of fraud within the H-1B visa program, leading to the issuance of several subpoenas. Vance has argued that the misuse of H-1B visas contributes to suppressing wages for American workers and has vowed to bar individuals who abuse the program from entering the United States.

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The misuse of H-1B visas suppresses wages for US workers. He added that those who abuse the visa program would be barred from entering the United States.