{
  "id": 3029454,
  "title": "Trump administration moves to impose more than $100,000 fee for H-1B worker visas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/trump-administration-moves-to-impose-more-than-100-000-fee-for-h-1b",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T13:36:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trump-administration-moves-to-impose-more-than-100000-fee-for-h1b-worker-visas-4873633"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump’s administration published a proposed regulation on Monday to establish a fee exceeding $100,000 for new H-1B visas granted to highly skilled foreign workers. This fee, first introduced by Trump in a temporary proclamation last year but later blocked by courts, significantly increases the cost of visas crucial in technology, education, and research sectors. A federal judge in June deemed the fee unlawful, halting its collection, while an appeals court in Boston is reviewing the decision, and a separate court is determining the validity of a challenge by a major business group. Trump’s 2025 order imposing the fee is set to expire in September, but directs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create regulations to make it permanent. The proposed $103,265 fee, published in the Federal Register on Monday for a formal publication on Tuesday, begins a 30-day public comment period. The rule could be finalized by year-end. The H-1B program permits U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with expertise in specialized fields, granting 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for those holding advanced degrees, valid for three to six years. The order Trump issued last year raised the cost of obtaining H-1B visas, which typically ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on various factors. Trump, a Republican, and other critics contend the program is exploited by numerous companies that replace American workers with less expensive foreign labor. However, business groups and multiple individual companies argue the visa program is essential to tackle a shortage of qualified American workers for certain jobs and to enable U.S. businesses to attract top talent. As of late February, roughly 70 employers had paid the $100,000 fee on 85 visa applications, according to court documents. Trump invoked his authority under federal immigration law to restrict entry of foreign nationals detrimental to U.S. interests when imposing the fee. The fee is being contested by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest U.S. business lobbying organization, Democratic-led states, and a coalition of unions and employers. These lawsuits could be modified to challenge the rule finalized this week. The lawsuits argue that Trump's authority to limit entry does not enable him to disregard the law that established the H-1B visa program. Additionally, the states and groups challenging the fee assert that the Department of Homeland Security cannot impose fees, taxes, or other revenue-generating measures without congressional approval. The Trump administration maintains the fee is not a conventional tax and that courts have limited power to question the president's authority to restrict entry into the country. Following Trump’s broader immigration enforcement, employers registered for approximately 344,000 H-1B visas last year, a decline of over 25% from 2024 and less than half of the 794,000 visas sought in 2023, as reported by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data. The Trump administration also issued a separate rule in August, imposing fees up to $4,500 on applications to extend the stay of H-1B workers or transfer employees based abroad to the United States.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Proposed regulation imposes $103,265 fee for new H-1B visas.",
    "Fee first introduced last year by Trump, blocked by courts.",
    "Fee's cost significantly higher than typical H-1B visa range."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Trump administration moves to impose more than $100,000 fee for H-1B worker visas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/trump-administration-moves-to-impose-more-than-100-000-fee-for-h-1b-3031850",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:47:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Trump administration moves to impose more than $100,000 fee for H-1B worker visas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/trump-administration-moves-to-impose-more-than-100-000-fee-for-h-1b-3041699",
        "published": "2026-08-24T14:23:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}