Trump Extends $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas Amid Ongoing Legal Battles

President Donald Trump has extended an executive order that would impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B non-immigrant visas for another year. This move comes despite criticism from legal challenges and business groups.

The initial order to raise the fee was released in September 2025 and was set to expire this month. However, Trump's administration wants to make the fee hike permanent, which would significantly increase the cost for companies seeking to hire skilled foreign workers.

H-1B visas allow tech and other professionals from abroad to work in the United States for a few years. The programme has faced criticism that some companies use it to hire lower-paid foreign workers instead of Americans. However, business groups argue that H-1B visas help recruit highly skilled professionals and address a lack of qualified US workers in certain industries.

The Trump administration's decision to extend the fee hike has been met with opposition from some quarters. A Boston-based appeals court is currently reviewing a June decision by a federal judge who deemed the higher fee imposed by the Trump administration illegal and blocked the government from collecting it.