Trump administration proposes $100,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visas

The Trump administration proposed a new fee of over $100,000 for H-1B visas in September 2024. The H-1B visa lets American companies hire skilled foreign workers for up to six years. Before this proposal, the main application fee was just $215. A court had already blocked an earlier version of the fee, ruling that only Congress can approve such charges. The new regulation also includes stricter checks on applicants and would give preference to higher-paid workers. Employers who want to extend a worker's visa could pay up to $4,500 extra. About 700,000 H-1B holders currently live in the United States. The public had 30 days to comment on the proposal, and the government hoped to finalise it before the end of the year.