H-1B Visa Fee: Donald Trump Extends USD 100,000 Payment Requirement for Another Year Until September 2027

US President Donald Trump has extended the USD 100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B visa petitions for another year, keeping the measure in place until September 21, 2027. The extension comes amid ongoing legal challenges over the administration's authority to impose the additional payment.

The White House said the conditions that prompted the original September 2025 order remain unchanged. The policy applies to certain H-1B specialty occupation workers seeking entry to the US from abroad.

What Is The USD 100,000 H-1B Fee?

The USD 100,000 payment requirement was introduced through a presidential proclamation in September 2025. Under the measure, employers sponsoring certain H-1B workers who are outside the US may have to make the additional payment before the workers can enter the country. US Student Visa Update: Judge Blocks Donald Trump Administration’s 4-Year Limit, Relief for Indian Students.

The policy primarily affects new H-1B workers who require consular processing. Existing H-1B visa holders and certain workers already in the US are covered by different rules, while exceptions can be granted when the Department of Homeland Security determines that an individual's entry is in the national interest.

The Trump administration has argued that the measure is needed to address concerns over the use of H-1B workers by outsourcing companies and to protect wages and employment opportunities for US workers.

H-1B Fee Extension And Indian Professionals

The extension is significant for Indian technology professionals and companies that depend heavily on the H-1B programme to place specialised workers in the US. US Green Card Rules Change Today: Here’s What USCIS’s New Public Charge Rule Means for Indians.

The White House said H-1B registrations from major IT staffing firms fell sharply after the USD 100,000 payment requirement was introduced. According to administration figures, registrations from the largest IT staffing firms declined from 24,946 to 2,055, a fall of around 92%.

The administration also reported a nearly 97% decline in consular-processing requests over the relevant H-1B lottery cycles. These figures were provided by the Trump administration as part of its justification for continuing the policy.

Legal Challenges Over USD 100,000 H-1B Payment

The extension comes as the USD 100,000 H-1B payment requirement faces legal challenges in US federal courts. Businesses and industry groups have questioned the administration's authority to impose the additional payment.

The ongoing court proceedings could affect the implementation of the measure. The extension, however, keeps the presidential restriction formally in place through September 21, 2027, subject to the outcome of the litigation.

Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Rules

The extension follows additional steps by the Trump administration to tighten oversight of the H-1B programme.

The administration has directed federal agencies to strengthen coordination while reviewing H-1B applications and petitions. Officials have also been instructed to consider factors including whether sponsoring employers have recently laid off US workers in similar positions.

The administration has said the broader changes are intended to increase scrutiny of the H-1B programme, discourage practices it considers abusive and focus the visa system on highly skilled workers.

H-1B Visa Rules: Key Points

• Additional payment: USD 100,000 for certain H-1B petitions covered by the proclamation.
• Extension: The measure has been extended until September 21, 2027.
• Mainly affected: Certain new H-1B workers outside the US seeking entry.
• Exceptions: National-interest exemptions may be available in specified circumstances.
• Legal status: The payment requirement remains subject to ongoing court challenges.
• Indian workers: The policy has particular relevance for Indian technology professionals and companies that rely heavily on H-1B visas.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2026 09:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).