White House says new H-1B visa fee applies only to new applicants

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Saturday that the new 100,000-U.S.-dollar fee for H-1B visas will not apply to current holders of Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
The White House clarified that a new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, effective Sunday, applies only to new applicants, not renewals or current visa holders. This measure, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to encourage companies to hire American workers.
- The fee is a one-time fee that applies only to the petition for new H-1B visas.
- Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, confirmed that current H-1B visa holders can travel internationally without issue.
- Companies like Microsoft and Amazon had previously advised their H-1B employees to return to the United States before the policy took effect.
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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.



