Trump H-1B fee plan clears White House review hurdle

A Trump administration proposal to change H-1B visa petition fees has cleared a review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, moving it closer to public release. The Department of Homeland Security proposal, listed as RIN 1615-AD20, is expected to be published soon, but the exact fee amounts, which employers would be affected, and the timeline remain unclear. The clearance does not mean any new fee is in force, the rule must still go through formal publication and public comment before taking effect.

The proposal is part of broader changes to the H-1B programme, including a $100,000 fee imposed last year on certain workers hired from outside the US and a separate measure to tighten eligibility rules and oversight of third-party placements. Indian nationals make up a large share of H-1B beneficiaries, especially in the US tech sector, and any fee increase could raise costs for sponsoring companies, particularly smaller employers.

Once the proposed rule is published, employers, lawyers, and workers will have an opportunity to submit public comments before DHS issues a final rule. No new fee has taken effect yet, but the clearance signals that the administration continues its push for higher costs and tighter requirements in the coming months.