H-1B visa shock: Trump admin proposes hiking fee to over $100,000

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to raise the fee for certain H-1B visa petitions to $103,265, turning the controversial $100,000 H-1B payment introduced by the Trump administration into a formal regulatory requirement. The proposed rule will undergo a 30-day public comment period before DHS finalizes it by year-end.

This move comes as uncertainty surrounds the H-1B program, particularly for Indian professionals who comprise the majority of beneficiaries. The proposed fee is the result of a 2025 proclamation by Trump that mandated a $100,000 payment for specific new H-1B petitions, which was expected to become permanent. However, a court ruled that this payment requirement was invalid, leading to ongoing legal challenges.

Meanwhile, USCIS has already processed enough petitions to meet the annual caps for fiscal year 2027. The proposed fee arrives amid broader tightening of the H-1B system, which has become increasingly challenging for employers and potential migrants. For Indian professionals, the fee adds to changes affecting the traditional route to long-term residency, including a shift towards a wage-weighted selection process and restrictions proposed in the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026.