THE UNITED STATES PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE COST OF H-1B VISAS TO $103,000

ON 24 AUGUST, THE TRUMP GOVERNMENT ISSUED A PROPOSED REGULATION ON MONDAY TO INCLUDE AN UNPRECEDENTED H-1B VISA FEE. THIS FEE WILL CHARGE MORE THAN $100,000 FOR H-1B VISAS FOR HIGHLY SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PAST YEAR, TRUMP HAS BEEN PREVENTED BY THE COURT FROM RAISING THIS FEE. FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR, TRUMP IMPLEMENTED THIS FEE THROUGH AN INTERIM PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE COST OF APPLYING FOR THE H-1B VISA, ON WHICH INDUSTRIES SUCH AS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT. IN JUNE THIS YEAR, A FEDERAL UNITED STATES JUDGE RULED THAT THE FEE WAS ILLEGAL AND PREVENTED THE TRUMP GOVERNMENT FROM CHARGING IT. THE ANNOUNCEMENT ISSUED BY TRUMP IN 2025 TO LEVY THE H-1B VISA FEE WILL EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER, ONE YEAR AFTER PUBLICATION, BUT HE HAS INSTRUCTED THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO ENACT RELEVANT LEGISLATION TO MAKE IT PERMANENT. THE COST PROPOSAL OF $103,265 SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL GAZETTE ON MONDAY AND WILL BE OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY, TOGETHER WITH A 30-DAY PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD. THE RULE IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED BY THE END OF THE YEAR。