White House Confirms $100K H-1B Visa Fee Will Not Be Annual

The White House and U.S. immigration agencies on Sunday clarified that the controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee will not be an annual levy but a one-time charge applied only to new petitions filed in the upcoming visa lottery cycle.

The announcement came amid widespread confusion and panic among thousands of skilled foreign professionals, particularly from India, who feared the new rules could restrict their ability to live and work in the United States.

White House: Confusion Sparks Rush Back to the U.S.

Following President Donald Trump’s proclamation on Friday, uncertainty spread quickly after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick initially suggested that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee would be collected annually and apply to renewals as well. Immigration lawyers warned that the vague wording in the proclamation could bar existing visa holders from re-entering the country after September 21.

“Based on a strict reading of the Proclamation, the restriction seemed to apply to everyone entering the U.S. on an H-1B visa after the effective date,” said Henry Lindpere, senior counsel for immigration at Manifest Law. “The safest advice was for visa holders abroad to return to the U.S. immediately.”

Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon even urged employees on H-1B visas to return before the new rules took effect, leading to a wave of hurried travel over the weekend.

White House Issues Key Clarifications

By Saturday evening, the White House, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued formal clarifications to calm fears.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on X (formerly Twitter):

• The $100,000 H-1B visa fee is not annual but a one-time payment at the time of filing a new petition.

• Current visa holders will not be charged to re-enter the U.S.

• The rule will not affect renewals or petitions filed before September 21, 2025.

“H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country just as they normally would,” Leavitt stated. “Their ability to travel is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation.”

What the New Visa Fee Means for Employers and Workers

The H-1B program, created in 1990, allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign professionals for three years, renewable for another three. Each year, the U.S. caps H-1B visas at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 available for applicants holding advanced degrees.

Over 70% of approved visas go to Indian professionals, making them the most affected by policy shifts. Top sponsors include major tech firms like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Critics argue that the steep $100,000 H-1B visa fee is intended to discourage U.S. companies from hiring foreign workers, pushing them to prioritize American talent. Supporters of the measure, however, believe it will create fairer opportunities in the domestic job market.

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