Trump proposes $103,265 H-1B fee for highly skilled foreign workers

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a $103,265 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, seeking to make permanent a charge that was temporarily introduced last year but subsequently blocked by a federal court.

The proposed fee was disclosed on Monday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a regulation posted in the Federal Register.

The proposal opens a 30-day public comment period and could be finalised by the end of 2026.

The move would significantly increase the cost of the H-1B programme, which is widely used by U.S. technology companies, universities, research institutions and other employers to recruit foreign professionals for specialised roles.

What they are saying

The H-1B programme allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialised knowledge and, typically, a relevant degree or equivalent qualifications. The programme is capped at 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for foreign workers with qualifying advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. Visas are generally approved for periods of three to six years.

• Before Trump’s $100,000 charge was introduced, H-1B-related fees typically ranged from about $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the application and employer.
• Trump and other critics had long argued that the H-1B program is used by some US firm to suppress wages and deny U.S citizens who are qualified for such jobs.
• Hence, it is not Trump’s first attempt to impose a $100,000-plus charge on H-1B workers.

In September 2025, Trump introduced the $100,000 fee through a presidential proclamation, arguing that the measure would help restrict the entry of foreign workers whose employment could be detrimental to U.S. interests.

Get up to speed

The proposed fee is part of a broader restructuring of the H-1B system under the Trump administration.

In February 2026, the U.S. introduced a wage-weighted H-1B selection system, replacing the traditional random lottery for the FY2027 selection cycle. The new system gives higher-paid positions better odds of selection, shifting the programme towards workers in higher-skilled and higher-paying roles.

• In March, the Department of Labor also proposed changes that would raise the prevailing wages employers must pay foreign workers under the H-1B and other employment-based immigration programmes. The proposal would move the wage thresholds higher across the four existing levels, potentially increasing salary requirements by roughly 21% to 33%.

However, a federal judge in June 2026 ruled that the fee was unlawful and blocked the administration from collecting it. The decision is being reviewed by a Boston-based appeals court, while another legal challenge involving a major business group remains before a separate court.

Taken together, the measures point to a shift in the H-1B programme towards higher-paid foreign professionals while making it more expensive for U.S. employers to sponsor workers.

The latest proposal would apply to new H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap, including the 20,000 advanced-degree allocation. It would not apply to renewals of existing H-1B visas or certain foreign nationals already in the U.S., including students transitioning from student status to H-1B status.

The administration’s broader immigration approach has also extended beyond skilled-worker visas.

What you should know

The H-1B proposal comes amid a wider effort by the Trump administration to tighten U.S. immigration rules and make it more difficult for some foreign nationals to enter, remain in or obtain permanent residency in the country.

• From September 18, 2026, USCIS will apply broader public-charge considerations to certain adjustment-of-status applications, giving immigration officers greater discretion to assess whether applicants are likely to become dependent on government benefits.
• In December 2025, Trump also ordered the suspension of the Diversity Visa programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after the administration linked the programme to the immigration history of a suspect in the Brown University shooting.

The administration has separately tightened procedures affecting foreign nationals seeking permanent residency and increased scrutiny of employment-based immigration, reinforcing its broader push to limit immigration and prioritise applicants considered economically valuable to the United States.