Government Proposes New Fee for Some H-1B Visas
The government wants to add a new, large fee for companies that ask for certain H-1B visas for skilled workers.
Affects: H1B, Employers · Source: USCIS
What happened
The U.S. government, through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has suggested a new fee. This fee would be for certain H-1B visas. The proposed fee is $103,265.
Companies would pay this fee when they send in their applications for these visas. This new fee would be added to all the other fees companies already pay. It is important to remember this is only a proposal right now.
The government expects this new fee to bring in about $8.8 billion each year. This money would come from about 85,000 H-1B visa applications.
By the numbers
- $103,265 — proposed additional H-1B fee
- $8.8 billion — estimated annual revenue from the proposed fee
- 85,000 — projected annual volume of H-1B cap-subject petitions
- 65,000 — annual limit for general H-1B visas
- 20,000 — additional annual limit for H-1B visas for those with U.S. master's degrees or higher
The bigger picture
Before this new idea, companies applying for H-1B visas already paid several fees. These fees helped pay for some of the government's work. However, the government says it needs more money to run the entire immigration system.
The government says this new fee will help cover many costs. These costs include checking immigration applications carefully. They also include finding and stopping fraud. The money would also help keep the country safe. It would also be used to make computer systems better and to manage records.
The government also wants to use this money for immigration courts. It would help with processing visas at U.S. offices in other countries. It would also support making sure labor laws are followed.
What this means for you
H1B workers
This proposal could make it much more expensive for companies to hire H-1B workers. If companies have to pay a very large extra fee, they might decide to sponsor fewer workers from other countries. This could mean fewer job opportunities for skilled foreign workers seeking H-1B visas. However, the fee does not apply to H-1B visas for non-profit research groups or universities.
Employers
Companies that want to hire H-1B workers would face a significant new cost. They would have to pay an additional $103,265 for each H-1B cap-subject petition they file. This would greatly increase the expense of bringing in skilled workers from abroad. Small businesses or those with tight budgets might find it harder to use the H-1B program.
Green card applicants
This proposal does not directly change anything for people who are applying for Green Cards. The new fee is specifically for certain H-1B visa applications. Your Green Card process would continue as before, without this extra cost.
All immigrants
This proposal focuses only on a specific part of the H-1B visa program. It does not directly affect most other types of visas or immigration processes. However, the government states that the money collected would help fund the overall immigration system. This could indirectly lead to better services or faster processing for all immigrants over time, but this is not a direct change for them.
What you should do
- Nothing right now — just good to know that this is a proposal. The government will ask for public comments before making a final decision.
Key dates
- 2026-08-24: Date the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this proposal
Words explained
- DHS
- DHS stands for the Department of Homeland Security. This is a big government group that works to keep the United States safe.
- H-1B visa
- An H-1B visa is a special pass that lets skilled workers from other countries come to the U.S. to work for companies.
- Cap-subject petitions
- These are applications for H-1B visas that are limited by a yearly number, like a maximum amount allowed.
- Adjudication
- Adjudication means the process where the government reviews an application and makes a decision about it.
- Proposed rule
- A proposed rule is an idea for a new rule or change that the government is thinking about. It is not a final rule yet.
Common questions
Is this new H-1B fee already happening?
No, this is only a proposal right now. The government is thinking about adding this fee, but it is not a final rule yet. There will be a chance for people to share their thoughts before it becomes final.
Who would have to pay this new fee?
Companies that apply for certain H-1B visas would pay this fee. It would apply to H-1B petitions that are part of the yearly limit, including those for workers with advanced degrees.
What is the money from this fee used for?
The government says the money would help pay for the costs of running the immigration system. This includes things like checking applications, preventing fraud, and improving computer systems.
Does this fee affect all H-1B visas?
No, the proposed fee would not apply to all H-1B visas. For example, H-1B petitions filed by certain non-profit research groups, government research groups, and universities would not have to pay this extra fee.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.