The Trump administration is proposing another major increase in H-1B visa fees, potentially pushing the cost for some employers hiring workers from abroad above $200,000.
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new fee of $103,265 for each of the 85,000 new H-1B applicants covered by the annual cap.
If President Donald Trump’s earlier $100,000 fee is eventually upheld in court, employers hiring applicants from outside the US could face a combined cost of about $203,265 per worker.
Trump had introduced the $100,000 fee in September 2025. However, a federal judge blocked it in June, calling it unlawful, and the Justice Department has appealed the ruling.
The earlier fee appears to have sharply reduced overseas applications. USCIS reportedly received just 85 applications from abroad during the first five months, generating $8.5 million. Applications fell by 87%, resulting in lower overall fee collections.
Critics argue that the latest proposal could severely damage the H-1B programme.
“This is just a way to kill the H-1B program,” said Shev Dalal-Dheini of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, warning that the combined fees could become another major barrier to legal immigration.
Tech, Healthcare Could Feel the Impact
Technology companies remain among the biggest users of H-1B visas. Amazon had 9,337 approvals through June 30, followed by Apple with 3,879, Google with 3,180 and Meta with 2,563, according to USCIS data cited in the report.
Universities and hospitals also rely heavily on H-1B professionals, particularly researchers, doctors and specialists.
Critics say steep fees could make it harder for smaller companies, hospitals and research institutions to recruit highly skilled foreign workers, while supporters argue higher costs would encourage employers to hire more American workers.
Why DHS Wants the New Fee
DHS says the proposed $103,265 fee is intended to help fund the wider immigration system.
The department estimates the measure could generate about $8.8 billion over a decade, with money distributed among USCIS, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, immigration courts, the Labor Department and the State Department.
The proposal has already triggered thousands of public comments, reflecting the continuing political divide over H-1B visas.
Supporters say companies should pay more when recruiting foreign workers, while opponents warn the policy could hurt innovation, universities, healthcare and smaller businesses.
Public comments on the proposal are being accepted through September 24.
For H-1B employers, the key question is now whether the courts will revive Trump’s original $100,000 fee. If that happens and the new DHS proposal also takes effect, the price of hiring one overseas H-1B worker could cross the $200,000 mark.
