White House Clarifies New $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Applies Only to New Applicants - September 2025

An announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump about a $100,000 hike in H-1B visa fees caused widespread confusion and panic among foreign workers. Many H-1B visa holders scrambled to return to the US, fearing the fee would apply to current visa holders returning from abroad, with one person reporting spending $8,000 to get back. The White House subsequently clarified that the new fee, effective Sunday, applies only to new applicants. The clarification specified that renewals or current visa holders would not be subject to the fee. According to the White House, this measure aims to encourage companies to hire American workers.