US Chamber Plans Lawsuit Over Trump $100K H-1B Visa Fee

The Trump administration has imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, prompting significant backlash from US businesses and industry groups. The US Chamber of Commerce, which includes major companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Alphabet, is considering legal action against this fee, citing concerns over its impact on the ability to hire skilled foreign workers, particularly from India. Indian professionals dominate the H-1B program and are crucial to the US technology and healthcare sectors, with California especially reliant on this talent pool. Critics argue the fee could undermine US competitiveness and innovation by reducing access to highly educated and high-earning immigrant workers. The Chamber is actively gathering support from its members and has communicated concerns directly to the administration, while also seeking clarifications about the scope of the fee's application. This potential lawsuit follows the Chamber's earlier successful challenge of Trump's 2020 visa suspension policies.