Trump extends $100,000 H-1B visa fee

US President Donald Trump has extended an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B non-immigrant visa applications for another year, the White House said Friday.

The order, originally issued in September 2025, was due to expire this month. Its extension keeps the higher fee measure in place while legal challenges over the policy continue.

The H-1B programme allows US employers to hire skilled foreign professionals for temporary work in the country. It is widely used by technology companies and other businesses seeking workers with specialised skills.

Trump has repeatedly criticised the existing system and has called for a permanent increase in the cost of H-1B visas. The standard fee has historically been far lower than the $100,000 charge introduced under his administration.

The higher fee has faced legal challenges from businesses and other groups. A federal judge in June ruled against the administration’s fee and blocked the government from collecting it. An appeals court in Boston is reviewing that decision.

A separate legal dispute involves a challenge brought by the US Chamber of Commerce, which has opposed the increased fee. Another court is considering whether that challenge was properly rejected.

The executive order does not cover certain foreign nationals already in the United States on student visas. Such students account for a significant share of new H-1B recipients. The measure also does not apply to renewals of existing H-1B visas.

The policy has drawn criticism from both sides of the debate. Some critics argue that employers can use the programme to recruit foreign workers at lower costs than American employees. Business groups and companies, however, say H-1B visas are important for hiring highly skilled professionals and addressing shortages in specialised fields.

The H-1B programme was established by Congress in 1990 and has become particularly important to the US technology sector. Companies frequently rely on the programme to recruit professionals from countries including India and China.