Politics · Vietnam Bureau
Trump administration proposes steep $103,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visas
The U.S. administration has unveiled a regulatory proposal to impose a permanent fee exceeding $100,000 on new H-1B visa applications for highly skilled foreign workers. The measure aims to codify a controversial fee that courts have previously blocked.
LSN Vietnam ·
The Trump administration released a proposed regulation on Monday that would establish an unprecedented fee of more than $103,000 on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers seeking employment in the United States. The move represents an attempt to implement a policy that has faced legal challenges in recent years, with federal courts blocking similar fee structures.
H-1B visas are widely used by U.S. companies to hire specialized workers in fields including technology, engineering, and healthcare when domestic talent is unavailable. The proposed fee would significantly increase the cost of sponsoring foreign employees, potentially reshaping hiring practices across major industries that rely heavily on immigrant skilled workers.
The administration has positioned the high fee as a mechanism to protect American workers and reduce reliance on foreign labor. However, the proposal is expected to face opposition from business groups and technology companies that depend on H-1B workers to fill critical positions.
Previous attempts to impose similar fees have been blocked by courts, which raised questions about the regulatory authority needed to implement such charges. The new proposal will likely trigger legal challenges and public comment periods before any final implementation.