{
  "id": 3210534,
  "title": "US proposes new US$103,265 H-1B visa fee, expanding charge beyond new arrivals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/us-proposes-new-us-103-265-h-1b-visa-fee-expanding-charge-beyond-new",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T07:00:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365171/us-proposes-new-103265-h-1b-visa-fee-expanding-charge-beyond-new-arrivals"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has proposed a new H-1B visa fee of US$103,265, which could significantly increase the cost of employing skilled foreign workers, with Chinese and Indian professionals facing the greatest impact. This proposal comes at a tense period for US-China relations, with visa issues having long been a source of tension between the two nations. The US Department of Homeland Security introduced the additional fee on Monday for every H-1B petition under the annual numerical cap of 85,000 visas, which includes the 20,000 reserved for individuals with US master's degrees or higher. Employers would pay this new charge along with existing fees, while universities and non-profit or government research organizations would be exempt. The new measure broadens the scope of a previous US$100,000 fee imposed in September 2025, which primarily targeted new H-1B arrivals from overseas. The new US$103,265 charge applies more broadly, including to cap-subject petitions filed for individuals already in the US seeking a change of status. This could affect many international students working in the US under Optional Practical Training. The administration's proposal stems from a recent legal setback, as a US court ruled the earlier H-1B fee as an unlawful tax that only Congress could authorize. In response, the Department of Homeland Security is taking a different legal approach, framing the fee as a cost-recovery measure. If approved, the new fee could generate approximately US$8.8 billion annually, funding immigration adjudication, security vetting, fraud detection, and other operations currently paid for by taxpayers. The administration also argues that the high fee could encourage companies to hire and train American workers instead of relying on foreign labor. China and India together account for roughly 12% of H-1B approvals annually, representing about 46,000 to 49,000 petitions for Chinese professionals and 283,000 to 284,000 for Indians. The new fee might deter Chinese and Indian professionals from accepting H-1B jobs, particularly for those already in the US, as many of them entered the country as students before transitioning to technology and engineering careers. Visa tensions between Washington and Beijing have been ongoing, with Chinese students and researchers facing stricter screening, shorter durations of stay, and accusations of national security risks. Beijing has, in turn, criticized the US for politicizing academic and professional exchanges. The latest H-1B proposal adds another layer to this dispute and coincides with the competition between Washington and Beijing for top talent in strategically important fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced engineering, and semiconductors. China is responding by offering attractive packages and subsidies to retain and attract homegrown talent, including AI and semiconductor companies, local governments, and tax incentives. The proposed H-1B fee is not yet in effect and will undergo a 30-day public comment period following its publication in the Federal Register. Legal challenges are expected, potentially leading to another lengthy court battle. The announcement, however, sends a strong signal to Chinese professionals and US companies that rely on their expertise.",
  "summary": "The US has proposed a new US$103,265 fee for H-1B visa petitions – a move that could ramp up the cost of hiring skilled foreign workers, with Chinese and Indian professionals particularly hard hit. It comes at a sensitive time for US-China relations, with visas already a long-running source of friction and Beijing stepping up efforts to attract global tech talent as competition intensifies…",
  "key_points": [
    "Proposal targets Chinese and Indian professionals, who make up 12% of annual H-1B approvals.",
    "Fee generates US$8.8 billion annually for immigration operations, funded by employers."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The proposed H-1B visa fee increase would significantly raise costs for US employers of skilled foreign workers, disproportionately affecting Chinese and Indian professionals and potentially altering hiring practices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}