Trump Extends Push for $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Amid Industry Backlash

US President Donald Trump has extended an executive order to raise the fee for H-1B non-immigrant visas by another year, keeping alive his push for a US$100,000 fee. This decision affects US employers seeking to hire skilled foreign workers through the federal government's H-1B visa program. The original order, first released in September 2025, was set to expire this month.

The Trump administration has been critical of the H-1B program, citing concerns that companies use it to hire lower-paid foreign workers instead of Americans. However, business groups and companies argue that the visas help recruit highly skilled professionals and address a lack of qualified US workers in some industries.

Changes to the visa application process have already impacted companies' hiring plans, with some top H-1B users like Alphabet moving to increase operations in India. A Boston-based appeals court is reviewing a federal judge's decision that deemed the higher fee imposed by Trump illegal and blocked its collection.