Trump administration proposes $103,000 fee for skilled worker visas

The Trump administration has proposed a new fee of over $103,000 for employers seeking skilled foreign workers through the H-1B visa program, according to a recent filing by the Department of Homeland Security. The policy, previously blocked by a federal judge, represents the latest move in the administration's immigration crackdown.

The H-1B program allows domestic employers to hire foreign workers for high-skilled positions with a three to six-year term. Employers such as Amazon and Microsoft are the largest users of the program, with a majority of approvals going to employees from India. The new fee, which would replace the previous range of $2,000 to $5,000, is set to generate approximately $8.8 billion annually.

However, labor unions, universities, and numerous states have filed lawsuits against the fee, arguing it would limit the hiring of global talent and harm the tech industry. The temporary fee, which expired in September, was revived by the DHS, with the public given 30 days to submit comments before the proposal becomes official.