On Friday September 19th, 2025, President Donald Trump imposed a new $100,000 fee on many specialty occupation H-1B petitions.
The H-1B is a temporary work visa that allows highly skilled foreign workers to enter the United States for renewable periods of stay. This category is allotted 85,000 visas annually and eligible applicants are selected through a random lottery.
The H-1B has been undergoing several changes since the summer of 2025, with proposals for moving it from the lottery system towards a wage-based merit system prioritizing higher salaried roles.
What to Know
Starting September 21st, 2025, the following took effect:
** The rule affects new H-1B specialty occupation petitions filed after September 21st, 2025, by workers outside the U.S.
** Pending cases, transfers and renewals within the U.S are unaffected.
** In addition to current filing fees and any other mandatory payments, all H-1B petitions for specialty occupations must include a $100, 000 payment.
** National interest cases are exempted. Upon a determination by the Secretary of Homeland Security that hiring the foreign worker is in the national interest of the United States and does not pose a threat to workers’ wages or welfare, the petition will be exempted from the new payment.
** Employers are required to show proof of payment and official government verification is required before a foreign specialty occupation worker can enter the U.S on an approved H-1B visa.
** The presidential proclamation is limited to a period of 12 months unless extended.