Trump’s $100K Fee on H-1B Visas Threatens Access to Global Tech Talent

President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping change to the H-1B visa program, raising the fee to $100,000 per petition.

H-1B visas allow companies to temporarily hire specialized workers in sectors such as IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, and modeling.

Employers seeking to sponsor new H-1B workers must now pay a $100,000 fee per visa petition, a significant jump from the previous $995 registration and lottery fees.

This announcement triggered widespread panic among visa holders and employers, especially in the US tech sector, resulting in last-minute travel cancellations and returns to the US.

The H-1B visa allows multiple entries into the US as long as travelers maintain valid visa stamps, employment status, and proper documentation. After the new fee announcement, many workers abroad fear extended delays or even denied reentry if their petition requires payment of the new fee.

This goes beyond financial cost, as it affects the personal lives and business mobility among H-1B workers and their families.

Major tech corporations, such as Microsoft and Amazon, contacted their H-1B staff after the announcement, advising them to return to the US immediately and cancel any plans for foreign travel.

Initially unclear, the administration later clarified that the $100,000 fee and new entry restrictions apply only to new H-1B visa petitions filed after September 21, 2025, when the order took effect.

Individuals holding valid H-1B visas or those with petitions filed before September 21 remain unaffected.

The H-1B program is critical in the technology sector, which depends on international talent. The sudden fee spike threatens to disrupt access to this workforce segment, potentially slowing project timelines and planned initiatives.

This year, the US also increased travel-related fees under the “Big Beautiful Bill” signed in July 2025. This includes the ESTA fee doubling from $21 to $40 and the $250 fee for non-immigrant visitor visas, in addition to the existing $185 fee.

Photo by Artem Zhukov on Unsplash