US Plans $200,000 H-1B Visa Fee Amid Staffing Concerns

The US government is considering increasing the H-1B visa fee to $200,000, a proposal that has sparked debate among tech companies, universities, and immigration advocates. The current fee of $100,000 was introduced after a sharp decline in applications from abroad, with only 85 applicants filing during the first five months under that payment, generating $8.5 million before being blocked in court.

The new proposal would apply to cap-subject petitions but not to cap-exempt petitions filed by universities and certain research organisations. Employers, not workers, would pay the fee, which some technology professionals support as it could reduce competition from foreign labour.

However, immigration advocates warn that higher fees could harm staffing, research, and innovation, particularly in healthcare where foreign-trained doctors and medical professionals form a significant part of the clinical workforce. Major tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta rely heavily on H-1B visas, while universities and research institutions also employ thousands of faculty members and researchers under this category.

The earlier $100,000 payment is currently tied up in litigation, with the government appealing a US District Judge's ruling that it was unlawful. The Justice Department argues that the payment is a regulatory measure, not a tax.