US Proposes $103,000 Fee for H-1B Work Visas

The U.S. administration is pushing to make hiring foreign talent significantly more expensive for American companies. Under a new proposal by the Department of Homeland Security, employers applying for H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers under the annual cap will have to pay a permanent fee of $103,265. This newly introduced charge will come on top of standard processing fees, which currently range between $2,000 and $5,000.

While the rule has not yet taken effect, official approval could come before the end of the year. The proposed measure aims to generate roughly $8.8 billion annually, which the government intends to allocate toward border security, immigration services, and labor enforcement.

The H-1B program serves as a primary pathway for U.S. technology, education, and research sectors to recruit international specialists, capping standard approvals at 65,000 annually alongside an extra 20,000 slots reserved for master's degree holders or higher from American universities. The new $103,265 fee specifically targets new cap-subject petitions and will not affect visa extensions or exempt applicants, such as those sponsored by universities, non-profit institutions, and governmental research organizations.

This initiative follows a separate $100,000 temporary charge introduced in September 2025, which was struck down by a federal court in June before being appealed by the administration. Because this new proposal relies on distinct legal authority, employers could potentially face both charges simultaneously if the previous court injunction is overturned.