US Imposes Huge Fee to Most Popular Work Visa. The United States government has announced a major change in the H-1B visa fees 2025, introducing a huge $100,000 fee for most applicants. This visa allows skilled foreign professionals to work in the US, and this new fee has stirred major debates across the business and tech sectors.
H1b Visa Fees Old vs New
Previously, H-1B visa applicants paid about $1,500 in total fees, including filing and service charges. With Trump’s new executive order, companies will now pay $100,000 per employee annually, a massive increase from the old fees. This change applies only to new applications, but employers sponsoring workers must pay the fee for up to six years.
The old H-1B fees included:
- Base filing fee: $460
- American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) fee: $750–$1,500
- Fraud prevention and detection fee: $500
- Optional premium processing fee: $2,500
With the H1b 100k fee, these older fees are now insignificant in comparison.
Trump to Add New $100000 Fee for H1B Visas
The executive order by President Trump claims that the H-1B visa system is prone to “abuse”, allowing companies to replace American workers with foreign employees at lower costs. The $100,000 annual fee is intended to prioritize only high-value workers and to encourage hiring of US citizens when possible.
According to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick:
“The company has to decide — is the employee valuable enough to justify $100,000 a year to the government, or should they hire an American instead?”
H1b Visas Old Fees
To better understand the scale of this change, here’s a comparison in Indian Rupees (INR):
| Fee Type | Old Fees (USD) | Approx. INR 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Filing Fee | 460 | ₹42,000 |
| ACWIA Fee | 750–1,500 | ₹68,000–₹1,36,000 |
| Fraud Prevention Fee | 500 | ₹45,000 |
| Optional Premium Processing | 2,500 | ₹2,27,000 |
In contrast, the new $100k fee equals roughly ₹90,00,000, showing how extreme this increase is.
H1B 100k Fee Impact
Experts warn that the new H1B 100k fee could severely impact small businesses and start-ups, who may not be able to afford this high entry cost. Immigration attorney Tahmina Watson stated:
“Almost no one can afford this. A $100,000 entry cost will knock out smaller employers who already struggle to find skilled workers.”
Large corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Apple, which have historically benefited from H-1B visas, may continue using the system, but smaller companies might need to reconsider sponsoring foreign employees.
H1B Visa Fees 2025: Key Points
- Effective date: September 21, 2025
- Applies to: New H-1B visa applications
- Employer responsibility: Pay fee for each employee for up to six years
- Goal: Reduce misuse of the system, encourage hiring Americans, and generate government revenue
H1b Visa Fees Old vs New in Indian Rupees
For Indian professionals, this fee hike is dramatic. While earlier H-1B costs were between ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh, the new $100,000 fee converts to about ₹90 lakh, almost 30–50 times the old amount. This may significantly reduce the number of Indian applicants who can realistically pursue H-1B visas.
H1b 100k Fee White House Statement
The White House clarified that this fee does not affect travelers or current H-1B holders. Only new applications are subject to this fee. The policy is aimed at new entrants and is part of a broader strategy to prioritize high-value talent.
Howard Lutnick emphasized:
“Major corporations support this as it helps them choose only the most skilled and valuable employees.”
Potential Challenges
Some experts fear that this $100,000 fee could push companies to move operations abroad or reduce hiring of foreign talent. Jorge Lopez of Littler Mendelson PC said the policy may damage America’s competitiveness in technology and innovation.
Conclusion
The new H-1B visa $100k fee is a historic shift from the old fees. While the policy targets alleged system abuse and aims to prioritize skilled workers, it poses major challenges for small businesses and foreign applicants. Companies will need to weigh employee value against the massive yearly cost. For professionals, especially from India, understanding this H1B visa fees old vs new comparison is essential before applying.
