US $100K H‑1B Fee Takes Effect

President Trump issued a presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B visa applications that took effect Sept. 21, 2025 and will run for 12 months. The White House said the charge applies only to new applicants and that legal text will determine final details and whether the levy is a one‑time measure. The announcement upended hiring plans at major tech firms and other employers and prompted travel and re‑entry concerns. Indian IT companies and analysts say they will sharply reduce H‑1B dependence—shifting work back to India, expanding offshoring and nearshoring, hiring more U.S. local talent or renegotiating contracts—to blunt short‑term costs. The administration also plans investigations into alleged employer abuse of the H‑1B program as part of a broader effort to prioritize American workers.