Business & Finance
Trump administration proposes $103,265 filing fee for H-1B skilled worker visas
The Department of Homeland Security's proposed rule would exempt universities, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations.
The short version
- The Department of Homeland Security proposed a $103,265 filing fee for H-1B skilled worker visas, exempting applicants at universities, hospitals, and other nonprofits.[PBS NewsHour]
- The administration argued the H-1B program displaces domestic labor and suppresses wages, though economists note foreign skilled workers largely complement American employment.[PBS NewsHour]
- A prior attempt to impose a $100,000 employer fee per visa was struck down by a federal judge for lacking congressional approval.[PBS NewsHour]
Key facts
- The Department of Homeland Security proposed a $103,265 filing fee for H-1B visas, excluding applicants at hospitals, universities, and nonprofits.[PBS NewsHour]
- A previous executive order attempting to levy a $100,000 fee per new H-1B worker was invalidated by a federal judge for exceeding executive authority without congressional approval.[PBS NewsHour]
- Nearly 70% of H-1B recipients come from India and 12% from China, with visa holders earning an overall median salary of $133,000.[PBS NewsHour]
- Annual new H-1B allocations are limited to 65,000, with an additional 20,000 reserved for advanced degree graduates from U.S. universities.[PBS NewsHour]
What remains uncertain
- The legal resilience of the newly proposed DHS fee rule remains tested against prior court rulings that invalidated fee hikes lacking congressional authorization.[PBS NewsHour]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.