The Trump administration has proposed a new six-figure fee for the H-1B visa programme, according to a report carried by AIP.org. The proposal targets employers who sponsor skilled foreign workers in the United States and would attach a fee running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars to certain H-1B filings.

The H-1B programme allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. If the proposed fee takes effect, it would mark one of the most significant cost increases in the programme's history.

Who would be affected

The proposal would affect US employers that petition for H-1B workers, particularly those making the kinds of filings to which the six-figure fee would apply. For foreign nationals seeking H-1B status, the change would raise the financial burden that sponsoring employers must absorb before a petition can proceed.

What changes

Under the proposal, petitioners would face a new fee set at a six-figure level for the affected H-1B filings. This would come on top of the existing costs of the H-1B process. The fee is a proposal at this stage and has not taken effect.

What applicants and employers should watch

Because the measure remains a proposal rather than a final rule, employers and prospective H-1B beneficiaries should monitor official channels for confirmation. Any final rulemaking would proceed through federal rulemaking procedures, including publication by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and, where required, a public comment period. Readers should rely on official notices from USCIS and the Federal Register for the exact fee amount, the filings it covers, and its effective date.

This is a developing story. Passport File will continue to track the proposal as further details emerge from official sources.

This article reports on a proposed policy change and does not constitute legal advice for any individual case. Employers and applicants should consult official USCIS publications and qualified counsel for guidance on specific situations.