$100,000 Fee Extended for Certain H-1B Workers Until September 2027

The US government has extended its requirement for a $100,000 payment from employers for certain H-1B workers until September 21, 2027. This move aims to prioritize higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign talent while addressing concerns about wage protections, labor market impacts, and H-1B program integrity.

The original measure was introduced in September 2025 and restricted the entry of certain H-1B workers unless their sponsoring employer made a $100,000 payment. This extension is intended to continue these efforts.

According to Envoy Global, a global immigration law firm, this restriction primarily affects foreign nationals outside the US who need admission in H-1B status. This can include individuals with newly approved H-1B petitions who have not yet entered the US, applicants applying for an H-1B visa at a US consulate abroad, and workers who must travel to the US to activate an approved H-1B petition.

The measure does not apply to renewals of existing H-1B visas or foreign nationals already in the US on student visas. The White House claims that the high payment has deterred lower-wage and lower-skilled recruitment, with H-1B registrations filed by the largest IT outsourcing companies falling 92% since the 2025 proclamation took effect.