Trump Extends $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee for Another Year

U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the $100,000 payment requirement attached to certain H-1B visa applications for another year. The White House said the restriction will continue for 12 months from September 21, 2026. Under the proclamation, certain H-1B workers seeking entry into the United States must have their petitions accompanied or supplemented by a $100,000 payment, subject to specified exceptions.

The administration has also issued an executive order directing federal agencies to increase scrutiny of H-1B applications. The order requires officials to consider whether sponsoring employers have recently laid off, or plan to lay off, similarly situated U.S. workers. The White House says the measures are intended to address what it describes as abuse of the H-1B programme. The policy is particularly relevant to the technology sector, where H-1B visas are widely used, and could affect employers and foreign professionals, including Indian IT workers. Existing H-1B holders and certain categories are subject to different rules and exceptions, so the impact depends on the applicant’s circumstances.