Trump Proposes $103,265 H-1B Visa Fee, Up From $3,000 on August 25

By Danny Kontos

August 26, 2026

03:31 AM

3 min read

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Key Points

Trump administration proposes $103,265 H-1B visa fee, up from $3,000 baseline.

Fee aims to recover immigration system costs and encourage hiring American workers instead.

Proposal follows June court ruling that blocked $100,000 fee as presidential overreach.

30-day public comment period opens, with potential finalization by year-end.

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The Trump administration proposed a $103,265 fee for H-1B visas on Monday, seeking to make it far more expensive for US companies to hire foreign specialists. The fee would jump from roughly $3,000 to $103,265 per visa. This is the administration’s second push after a federal judge voided a $100,000 fee in June, ruling the president lacked authority to impose it without Congress.

Why the fee is being proposed again

The administration says the new fee will recover immigration system costs and encourage companies to hire American workers instead. Vice President JD Vance posted on X on Monday: “If an American corporation needs workers, it should hire and train Americans.” The original $100,000 fee, imposed by Trump in September 2025, was blocked by US District Judge Leo Sorokin in June, who found only Congress could change federal immigration policy through what he viewed as a tax.

How the new proposal differs from the blocked fee

The proposed $103,265 fee applies to almost anyone getting a new H-1B visa, not just those outside the country. The rule is not final. The Department of Homeland Security posted the proposed regulation to the Federal Register on Monday, opening a 30-day public comment period. The rule could be finalized by year-end, though it may face legal challenges.

What the H-1B program covers

H-1B visas allow foreign professionals to work in specialized fields requiring at least a bachelor’s degree. The visa is valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. US law allows 65,000 H-1B visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for holders of advanced degrees from American institutions.

The debate over the program

Trump and critics argue the H-1B program is abused, with companies replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labour. Business groups and individual companies counter that the program is needed to fill gaps in qualified American workers for certain jobs. Economists have argued the program helps US companies maintain competitiveness and grow their business, creating more jobs overall.

Final Thoughts

The proposed $103,265 fee represents a major policy shift that could reshape hiring in tech, education, and research sectors. With legal challenges likely, the outcome remains uncertain, but the administration is signalling a hardline stance on immigration policy regardless of court setbacks.

FAQs

Why did Trump propose this fee after losing in court?

The June court ruling blocked the fee as presidential overreach. The new proposal uses a regulatory process through the Department of Homeland Security instead, which the administration believes gives it stronger legal footing.

How much more will companies pay for H-1B visas?

The fee jumps from about $3,000 to $103,265 per visa, a roughly 34-fold increase. The exact prior fee ranged from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on factors.

When will the new fee take effect?

The rule is not final. The public has 30 days to submit comments, and the rule could be finalized by year-end, though legal challenges may delay implementation.

Who is affected by the H-1B visa fee?

US employers sponsoring foreign workers in specialized fields pay the fee. The visa requires applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and is valid for three to six years total.

Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.

About Author

Danny Kontos

Co Founder

Danny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.