H-1B visa; $100,000 fee will be ‘one-time’ payment imposed only on new applicants, says White House 

WASHINGTON: The White House has clarified on the annual fee of $100,000 (over Rs 88 lakh) for H-1B worker visas. The fee increase is applicable to new applicants. The increase will not apply for renewing the existing visas. This was clarified by American Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt.

The $100,000 is not annual fee and it is a one-time fee. You don’t have to pay $100,000 when renewing. Those presently outside the country and hold H-1B worker visas do not have to pay the $100,000 fee to re-enter the country.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Suspends the Entry of Certain Alien Nonimmigrant Workershttps://t.co/k46jPq4pg5

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 20, 2025

This fee is payable to the government by American companies that employ foreign workers on H-1B visas. The concern is that it was only $5000-6000 and was increased to $100,000 all at once. Companies like Microsoft, J P Morgan, and Amazon have advised H-1B visa holders to remain in the US. If they are outside the US, they are advised to return before 9:30 am today, Indian time.