Trump administration moves to impose more than $100,000 fee for H-1B worker visas

President Donald Trump's administration has proposed a regulation to impose a significant fee of over $100,000 for new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. This fee, which was initially introduced last year, was later blocked by a federal judge in June, and an appeals court is currently reviewing the decision. The proposal, published in the Federal Register on Monday, aims to make the fee permanent and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

The proposed fee, $103,265, far exceeds the typical cost, previously ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, for H-1B visas. The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers with specialized training, with approximately 65,000 visas issued annually and an additional 20,000 for workers with advanced degrees. The fee's introduction has sparked debate, with critics arguing that it disproportionately benefits foreign labor and displaces American workers, while supporters claim it is essential for addressing the shortage of qualified American workers and attracting top talent to US businesses.