Trump Renews $100,000 H-1B Fee, Tightens Oversight of Foreign Hiring
What Happened
US President Donald Trump has extended for another year the controversial $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa applications, a policy first introduced in 2025. The White House said the measure led to a 92% drop in H-1B registrations by large IT outsourcing firms. Indians remain the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program. Alongside the extension, the administration has ordered stricter scrutiny of H-1B applications. US agencies will now review whether sponsoring employers have recently laid off or plan to lay off similarly placed American workers when considering visa petitions.
Key Takeaways
The move signals a tougher stance on foreign worker hiring and could impact Indian IT firms that rely heavily on H-1B visas. While the fee remains tied up in court challenges, the administration is continuing efforts to prioritize hiring of US workers.