Trump Hikes Cost of H-1B to $100,000

Increase Fees For New H1-B Visa Applicants Only

Donald Trump confirmed the increased costs will be introduced immediately, although there was initial confusion if the new fees would apply to current H1-B visa holders and would be an annual charge.  The White House has since confirmed the $100,000 is a one-off payment and will only impact new H-1B visa petitions.

US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, confirmed “all the big companies” had been briefed on the new fee.

“If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs,” he added.

Fears H-1B Route Undermines National Security

The H-1-B visa is usually valid for three years, with the possibility of extending to up to six years. Prior to the new fee increase, the visa cost employers around $5,000 per worker.

H-1B visas are a popular route for skilled workers especially in the tech, engineering and finance industries. In the past, Elon Musk, himself a former H1-B visa holder, stressed the important role the H1-B plays in attracting the world’s leading talent to ensure the US is at the forefront of development.

However, there has been concerns that the H1-B pathway undermines the recruitment of US workers and could put national security at risk.  

Increased Costs May Create “Uncertainty” for US Businesses

Most H-1B visa applicants come from India and account for around 70 per cent of applications. The visa is also popular with workers travelling from China, Canada, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Korea. Last year, Amazon was the largest employer of H-1B visa holders followed by Tata, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google.

India’s IT trade body, Nasscom, said the new H-1B costs could “potentially have ripple effects on America’s innovation ecosystem”, while creating “considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world”.

However, there has been a decline in the number of H1-B visas being applied for according to data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Last year, 359,000 requests were filed, which was the lowest for four years but still well above the annual cap of 85,000.

How Can IAS Help?

If you are planning to move to the US on a H1-B Visa then reach out to IAS to discuss whether an alternative visa may be more suitable and affordable.

The experienced team at IAS are on hand to support you in applying for a US visa, checking documentation, advising on compliance or assisting with extending your stay overseas.

Contact IAS today for personalised advice on +1 844 290 6312 or use our live chat to keep up-to-date with all US immigration policy changes.