H-1B visa fee: Do you have to pay $100,000 fee to enter US?

H-1B visa fee: Trump has introduced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas to attract “high-skilled and high-paid” workers. But who is actually responsible for this $100k H-1B visa fee? Do applicants have to pay $100k just to enter the United States? And will it affect all current H-1B visa holders? Keep reading to get the full picture.

Written by Arfa Javaid

Updated: September 20, 2025 20:00 IST

H-1B visa fee: Trump has introduced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas to attract “high-skilled and high-paid” workers. But who is actually responsible for this $100k H-1B visa fee? Do applicants have to pay $100k just to enter the United States? And will it affect all current H-1B visa holders? Keep reading to get the full picture.

H-1B visa fee: Trump singed the H-1B visa proclamation on September 19.

H-1B visa fee: It is all about the H-1B visa today, after Trump signed the “Restriction on entry of certain non-immigrant workers” proclamation. While many have been Googling “H-1B visas”, tech workers and current H-1B holders are in a state of panic and have been reading the presidential order for answers, again and again. Even those who haven’t applied yet, or are anxiously waiting for their visa stamps, are feeling the pressure. As for media outlets, they are dissecting the order, word for word, and debunking rumours on social media. But a question that has confused many still remains unanswered: Who really needs to worry, and is there a $100,000 entry fee?

Well, to answer it all, we went through the official order and simplified it for you.

H-1B visa: Do you have to pay $100,000 entry fee?

One question that most people have on their minds right now, especially after reading through the misleading social media posts, is whether they have to pay a $100,000 entry fee.

You don’t have to pay anything to enter the United States. The $100,000 fee applies only to new H-1B petitions or visa renewals, and even then, it’s not your burden. Your employer is responsible for covering this hefty cost as part of the application process.

H-1B visa: Restriction on entry

The order states that “entry into the United States of aliens as nonimmigrants to perform services in a speciality occupation” is restricted unless your employer has paid the $100,000 fee.

“Deny entry to the United States to any H-1B nonimmigrant for whom the prospective employer has not made the payment described in section 1 of this proclamation,” Section 2 (c) stated.

However, there are exceptions.

Section (c) of the same clarifies that the restrictions will NOT “apply” to individuals working for companies or industries deemed in the national interest and posing no security threat. In other words, not every H-1B application is affected; some workers are fully exempt.

H-1B visa proclamation: Prioritise top talent

The proclamation, signed on September 19 by Trump, is intended to prioritise the entry of “high-skilled and high-paid” individuals into the United States.

“The Secretary of Labour shall initiate a rulemaking to revise the prevailing wage levels to levels consistent with the policy goals of this proclamation, consistent with section 212(n) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(n),” Section 4 (a) of the order directed.

H-1B visa fee: What else should you know?

The new H-1B rules will not alter the status of H-1B holders. It will NOT revoke or cancel existing H-1B visas. Current H-1B holders are unaffected unless their employer submits a new petition for renewal. In that case, the visa will be subject to review after 12 months.

According to US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, the new H-1B fee would be paid annually for six years. However, the proclamation itself doesn’t specify this timeframe; it only states that the policy will be reviewed after 12 months. In addition, the fee is permanent, meaning it remains in effect until officially changed.