The White House has clarified that the Trump administration’s newly announced $100,000 application fee for the H-1B visa program will apply only to new applicants.
Current H-1B holders, as well as individuals seeking to renew their visas, will not face the additional charge, the administration said in a post on X. Applicants selected in this year’s H-1B lottery whose visas take effect on October 1 are also exempt.
H-1B Visa Fee Clarification
The H-1B program, which allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, is widely used by technology firms, financial institutions, and other industries that rely on specialized expertise not readily available in the domestic labor market.
Clarifying things, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X “To be clear: 1.) This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition. 2.) Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter. H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation. 3.) This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders.”
The clarification follows a week of confusion that left employers scrambling to assess the impact of what would have been an unprecedented surcharge. Companies including Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon advised H-1B employees to avoid foreign travel until the administration provided guidance.
Officials initially said the new rules would take effect Sunday, fueling concern among workers and businesses. The White House has stressed that the measure is intended to ensure the program “prioritizes high-skilled labor and strengthens domestic workforce protections,” according to a spokesperson cited by Bloomberg.
What This Means
The newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa application fee will apply only to new applicants, while current visa holders, those renewing their status, and individuals selected in this year’s lottery set to begin October 1 are exempt.
For companies, especially in technology, finance, and research, this means bringing in new international talent will become far more expensive, potentially reshaping recruitment strategies.
