New $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visas: What You Should Know

President Donald Trump has announced a big change to the way U.S. companies hire skilled workers from other countries.

Starting September 21, 2025, companies that want to hire someone through the H-1B visa program will have to pay a one-time fee of $100,000 for each new worker.

Before this change, the fee was much lower—between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the company’s size.
 

What Is the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa lets U.S. employers hire highly educated foreign professionals for jobs that need special skills, like software development, engineering, and medical research.

To qualify, these jobs must require at least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification. The H-1B visa usually allows the worker to stay for up to three years, and can be extended to six years.

Every year, there is a limit to how many H-1B visas are given out. Congress currently allows 65,000 visas per year, with 20,000 extra spots for workers who have advanced degrees from U.S. schools.

Most H-1B visa holders work in computer-related jobs. As of 2023, nearly 65% were in technology fields like software engineering. More than 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indian citizens.

Because of this, the new fee is expected to especially affect U.S. businesses that work closely with India.
 

How Will the Fee Affect People and Businesses?

India’s government has expressed concern that the new fee will disrupt families and hopes that U.S. authorities will address these problems.

When the fee was first announced, there was confusion and worry among H-1B workers and their families, with some people rushing to come to the U.S. before the change went into effect. Some even canceled travel plans, worried they might not be able to return.

Major U.S. companies, especially tech giants and banks, rely heavily on H-1B workers. In fiscal year 2025, Amazon sponsored more than 10,000 H-1B workers. Other top employers include Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Google, Cognizant, JPMorgan Chase, and Walmart.

Economists say the high fee could hurt the U.S. economy. Skilled workers may choose to relocate to other countries, which could slow down economic growth and lead to a “brain drain” where talented workers leave the country.
 

Do H-1B Workers Take Jobs from Americans?

No, H-1B workers do not take jobs away from American workers. U.S. companies must follow strict rules before hiring someone with an H-1B visa.

They must show the government that hiring a foreign worker will not lower wages or worsen working conditions for American employees. They also have to let current employees know when an H-1B worker is being hired.

Research shows that H-1B workers actually help strengthen job opportunities for American workers, not take them away. Jobs that commonly use H-1B visas tend to have low unemployment rates, even during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic. This means there are more job openings than there are workers in these fields.
 

Summary:

The new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas is a major increase and is expected to make it harder for U.S. companies to hire talented workers from other countries.

This could impact families, businesses, and the U.S. economy as a whole. Despite concerns, studies show that H-1B workers support American jobs rather than replace them.

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