The United States has extended an executive order requiring a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B non-immigrant visa applicants for another year, according to the White House.
The order, first introduced in September 2025, was due to expire this month. President Donald Trump has also pushed for a permanent increase in H-1B visa fees, which currently range from around $2,000 to $5,000, to at least $100,000.
The H-1B program allows US employers to hire skilled foreign professionals, particularly in technology and other specialized fields, for employment in the country.
The fee increase remains subject to ongoing legal challenges. A Boston-based appeals court is reviewing a federal judge’s June ruling that declared the higher fee illegal and blocked the administration from collecting it. Another court is also considering a challenge filed by the US Chamber of Commerce.
The $100,000 fee does not apply to foreign nationals already in the United States on student visas who later obtain H-1B status. Existing H-1B visa renewals are also exempt from the increased payment.
The H-1B program has become an important source of skilled workers for US technology companies, particularly from countries such as India and China. Business groups and companies say the program helps address shortages of qualified workers, while critics argue that some employers use it to hire foreign workers at lower wages.
The program was established by Congress in 1990, and changes to H-1B scrutiny and processing have continued to influence hiring and expansion plans among major companies.
