DHS Proposes Record-Breaking $103K Fee for H-1B Visa Applications

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new fee for employers filing H-1B petitions, which could reach as high as $103,265. This proposal aims to cover the federal government's costs of administering the lawful immigration system.

The new rule would apply to workers seeking to gain employment in the U.S. under the annual statutory cap, including those eligible for the 20,000 advanced-degree exemption. The proposed fee is part of a broader effort to tighten legal immigration.

This development follows reports that the Trump administration considered charging international students $100,000 to work in the U.S. after graduating from American universities. However, a federal judge struck down the Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa fee in June, ruling it was an unauthorized tax.