US President Donald Trump has extended by one year an executive order that requires employers to pay a $100,000 fee when applying for certain H-1B non-immigrant visas, the White House said on Friday.
The H-1B programme allows US employers to hire skilled foreign workers, including technology professionals, for jobs in the country. The visas are generally issued for several years.
Also Read| H-1B fee hike: Trump plan could push cost above $200,000
Trump first introduced the fee increase in September 2025. His administration has argued that the programme can allow companies to hire foreign workers at lower wages instead of employing Americans.
The fee hike has faced legal challenges. A federal judge ruled in June that the administration had acted illegally and blocked the government from collecting the higher fee. A Boston-based appeals court is reviewing that decision.
A separate court is also considering a challenge filed by the US Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest business lobbying group, against the fee.
Before Trump’s order, the H-1B application fee ranged from about $2,000 to $5,000. Trump has said he wants to make the $100,000 charge permanent.
The order does not cover foreign students already in the United States who later apply for H-1B visas. These students account for a significant share of new H-1B recipients. It also does not apply to existing visa renewals.
Also Read| Trump’s H-1B crackdown hurts Indian IT, but the industry saw it coming
Business groups and companies have opposed the higher fee, saying H-1B visas help employers recruit skilled professionals and fill positions where qualified US workers are not available.
Congress created the H-1B programme in 1990. It is particularly important for technology companies recruiting professionals from India and China.
Changes to the screening and processing of H-1B applications have affected hiring and expansion plans. Some major users of the programme, including Google parent Alphabet, have increased their operations in India.
