$100,000 H-1B Fee Announced

On Friday, September 19, 2025, the White House issued a proclamation stating that the entry to the U.S. of H-1B workers is restricted, unless their petitions are accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000. This affects H-1B holders seeking admission to the U.S. after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight time on September 21, 2025. If you are an H-1B visa holder currently abroad, we advise to return the U.S. before this deadline.

The proclamation affects all cap-subject H-1Bs who are waiting for the start of the new fiscal year abroad, as they were precluded from entering until 10 days prior to October 1. It also affects all other H-1B holders, including those working for institutions of higher education, healthcare institutions, and other non-profits. It is yet unclear whether the proclamation applies to H-1B petitions for beneficiaries who are in the U.S. seeking to change or extend status.

The proclamation includes exceptions for individuals or companies if DHS determines that it is in the national interest of the U.S. and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the U.S.

We expect the proclamation to be challenged in court in the coming days.

All H-1B holders should refrain from international travel.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-20/trump-shapes-gilded-age-of-us-immigration-with-100-000-h-1b-fee?embedded-checkout=true