H-1B Visa BIG Update: US Clarifies $100K Fee — What It Means For Current Holders? | World News

US H-1B Visa: In a significant development regarding H-1B visas, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued new guidance regarding the $100,000 application fee. This comes just two days after the US Chamber of Commerce sued the administration led by US President Donald Trump over the new rules, calling it “illegal”.

What will current H-1B holders pay?

The new rules for H-1B visa holders are:

1- IANS reported that as per the new guidelines, workers who switch from other visa categories such as F-1 student status to H-1B visa status will not be subject to a fee of US$ 100 thousand.

2- H-1B workers applying for a change, change of status, or extension of stay in the United States will also not be subject to payment.

3- The directive, which provides great relief for existing H-1B visa holders, states that they will not be prevented from entering or exiting the USA.

It is noteworthy that the declaration clarifies as follows: Applies only to new visa petitions who are outside the United States and do not have a valid H-1B visa. It also provided an online payment link for new applications.

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H-1B Visa Case

In the lawsuit filed Thursday in district court in Washington, the plaintiff argued that the visa fee, if implemented, would “significantly harm American businesses” and force them to “either significantly increase labor costs or hire fewer highly skilled workers who cannot be replaced domestically.”

The report stated that Trump’s statement dated September 19 was “clearly illegal” and “a boon for America’s economic rivals.”

This was the second major domestic legal battle over new H-1B visa rules, after a group of unions, education professionals and religious institutions sued the Trump administration on Oct. 3.

Trump Received H-1B Visa

Trump, who signed the declaration in September, said that “the incentive is to hire American workers.” This caused widespread confusion as it appeared to affect existing H-1B visa holders.

The White House issued a statement to news agency IANS on September 20, saying this was a “one-time fee” and did not apply to renewals or existing visa holders, but only to new visas.

Indians Working in the USA

Indian-born workers received more than 70 percent of the total H1-B visas approved in 2024.

(With inputs from IANS)