H-1B Visa 2025: $100,000 Fee Introduced, Who Pays and Who is Exempt

Exempt from H-1B Visa: The United States government will start charging a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa applications starting September 2025. The fee is meant to stop big companies from using too many foreign workers and to make the program fairer.

Many technology, health, and engineering companies hire people from other countries using H-1B visas, so this new charge will affect how they hire. Big companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta could see higher costs if they want to bring in more workers from abroad.

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Who Will Have to Pay and Who is Exempt?

The new fee will apply to companies with more than 50 employees in the U.S., where at least half of the staff works on H-1B or L-1 visas. It also applies if a company wants to add more foreign workers through new petitions.

Small companies and startups with fewer employees will not pay this fee. Some organizations are fully exempt, like nonprofit universities, research centers, and workers who are already on an H-1B visa and not changing employers. A White House spokesperson said, “This fee will not affect current H-1B visa holders. The goal is to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system without punishing those who already contribute to the US economy.”

Impact on Workers and Companies

Experts say this change might make companies hire more local workers instead of relying only on H-1B visas. For foreign professionals, the fee could make it harder to get jobs at big firms. Some think it could also create more opportunities for smaller companies to hire skilled workers. The government is also thinking about changing the lottery system and setting new wage rules to make pay fair for visa workers.

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This $100,000 fee is a big change in U.S. immigration policy. It will affect both how companies hire and how foreign workers plan their careers. Everyone is now waiting to see how the H-1B program will work after September 2025.

A White House spokesperson said, “This fee will not affect current H-1B visa holders. The goal is to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system without punishing those who already contribute to the US economy.”