{"id":361180,"date":"2025-09-22T15:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=361180"},"modified":"2025-09-22T15:02:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T09:32:30","slug":"us-h1b-visa-100k-fee-update-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/09\/22\/us-h1b-visa-100k-fee-update-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Are you a H-1B Visa Aspirant? Know the Impositions and Implications of $100,000 US Visa Application Fee"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 19-9-2025, the White House<\/span> issued a presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Non-immigrant Workers<\/span>” marking an initial and incremental step toward reforming the H-1B visa program<\/span>. The proclamation aims to curb program abuses and safeguard American workers. As part of this reform, all new H-1B visa<\/span> petitions filed after 12:01 a.m. EDT on 21-9-2025<\/span>, are required to include a one-time payment of $100,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

Background:<\/h3>\n

Over the past two decades, there was a growing concern regarding the impact of the H-1B visa program<\/span> on domestic employment and national security. The proportion of IT roles held by H-1B visa holders has increased significantly, from 32% in FY 2003 to over 65% in recent years, while unemployment among recent U.S. computer science and engineering graduates has reached 6.1% and 7.5%, respectively, surpassing rates in other academic disciplines.<\/p>\n

Between 2000 and 2019, the number of foreign STEM workers in the U.S. more than doubled, whereas overall STEM employment rose by only 44.5%. Several major companies have continued to receive thousands of H-1B approvals while simultaneously implementing large-scale layoffs of American workers.<\/p>\n

In some cases, U.S. employees have reportedly been required to train their foreign replacements under non-disclosure agreements. These trends have contributed to declining interest among American students in pursuing STEM careers, raising long-term concerns about workforce readiness and national competitiveness.1<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

In response, the administration has introduced reforms, including a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions, to address program misuse, safeguard wage standards, and reinforce national security priorities.<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    This proclamation2<\/sup><\/a> mandates any employer seeking to sponsor a new H-1B worker<\/span> must now pay a $100,000 fee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    This fee is a one-time fee payable by new H-1B<\/span> applicants only. Including, the 2026 lottery, and any other H-1B petitions submitted after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on 21-9-2025.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The fee is non-refundable<\/span> and must be submitted at the time of filing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    The fee does not apply<\/span> to:<\/p>\n