H-1B Visa Fee Increase: Current Payments by Applicants, With Explanations of the Lottery and Form I-129 Costs
The Trump administration has proposed a significant change to the H-1B visa programme, with plans to introduce a fee of $100,000 for each visa issued. The fee is part of the administration's efforts to curb overuse of the H-1B program and prevent abuse of the pathway.
The proposed fee does not replace the existing charges for Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker), the cost of which remains undisclosed in the report. Additionally, the specifics of the cost for Form I-129 charges and any potential exemptions or waivers for the proposed visa integrity fee are not yet clear.
To register for the H-1B lottery, applicants will still need to pay a fee of $215. If selected, the employer will also be required to pay $780 to file Form I-129. The visa integrity fee, however, cannot be waived but can be reimbursed under certain conditions following visa expiration.
According to USCIS data from 2024, Indians make up for nearly 70 percent of H-1B visas issued. The impact of the proposed fee on companies sponsoring H-1B visas is not yet clear, with the article not mentioning any companies sponsoring more visas than before.
However, the companies in the United States that have most frequently sponsored H-1B visas after President Donald Trump's proposal to introduce a $100,000 fee are Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Microsoft, Meta, and Apple, with Amazon leading by a significant margin with over 10,000 H-1B visa approvals in 2025 alone.
The cost of obtaining an H-1B visa can vary depending on factors such as the company's size, expediting fees, changes in employers, and attorney fees. The specific date for when the proposed fee will take effect has not been announced.
The Trump government believes this proclamation will stop the abuse of the H-1B pathway. In addition, Trump plans to order the Labor Secretary to revise prevailing-wage levels for the H-1B program, with the intention of limiting the use of visas to avoid undercutting wages for American workers.
It's important to note that the article does not discuss any relationship between the H-1B visa changes and the Indonesia ferry fire, or provide any information about the Indonesia ferry fire. The proposed changes to the H-1B visa programme are currently under review and further details are expected to be announced in due course.
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