Now Reading: US proposes $103,265 fee for new H-1B visas
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US proposes $103,265 fee for new H-1B visas
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a standalone fee of $103,265 for new H-1B visa cap-subject applications, replacing a $100,000 fee blocked by a federal court in June 2026. The…
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a standalone fee of $103,265 for new H-1B visa cap-subject applications, replacing a $100,000 fee blocked by a federal court in June 2026. The proposal applies to all new H-1B petitions under the annual cap of 85,000, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, but not to renewals or cap-exempt filings by nonprofits and research organisations.
The fee would be paid by employers at the time of filing, separate from existing charges. DHS estimates it would generate $8.8 billion a year. Immigration attorney Emily Neumann said the move uses a different statutory authority but the same playbook to restrict legal immigration, and predicted litigation if the rule is finalised. FWD.us president Todd Schulte said the fee could hurt US ability to attract skilled workers. Public comments are open for 30 days before a final rule is published.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Times Now and India Today report the proposal as a concrete development with revenue estimates and DHS justification, while Times of India leads with an attorney's prediction that the rule will not stick. The critical framing emphasises litigation risk and questions DHS authority, the neutral framing treats it as a routine regulatory step. Missing from all reports is any detailed industry estimate of how many Indian tech hires would be cancelled at this cost. The 30-day comment period and likely legal challenge are the next concrete milestones.
Coverage: 4 sources, 1 government-critical, 3 neutral
Sources (4): timesnownews.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical), ndtvprofit.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
