Trump Administration Proposes Making $103,265 H-1B Visa Fee Permanent

The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed raising the H-1B visa fee for highly skilled foreign workers to more than $100,000 and making the higher fee permanent. The contentious immigration measure could have significant ramifications for foreign employees, including Indians, even as US courts continue to consider whether the increased fee is lawful.

The Trump administration first temporarily imposed the fee, which was recommended by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), last year, increasing the cost of visas that are crucial for the tech, education, and research industries. According to sources, the temporary fee increase will end in September, one year after it was implemented.

H-1B Fee Increase Faces Legal Challenge In US Court

The proposed increase comes as the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas has been challenged in court. A federal judge in Boston ruled that the fee was an illegal tax that Congress had not authorised. However, the legal dispute is now being reviewed by an appeals court.

The Trump administration intends to permanently impose a six-figure H-1B fee.

Trump Administration Proposes Making $103,265 H-1B Fee Permanent

In its most recent rule, published in the Federal Register on Monday, the Trump administration proposed making the higher fee permanent. The proposed increase, which could be approved by the end of the year, would make the $103,265 H-1B visa fee permanent under the new DHS regulation.

The H-1B visa programme, which offers 65,000 visas annually and an additional 20,000 for workers with advanced degrees, enables US firms to hire foreign workers in specialised occupations.

According to sources, H-1B visas are generally authorised for three years and can be extended for up to six years. Before the Trump administration raised the programme's cost, H-1B visas typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000.