As of Sept. 21, 2025, a new and controversial proposal to raise the fee for H-1B visas to $100,000 has entered the ongoing debate over the future of the U.S. program for skilled foreign workers. The suggestion introduces a drastic increase from current costs.
The H-1B program is a primary channel for U.S. companies to hire foreign talent in specialized fields like technology and engineering. Currently, the standard filing fee is $555, with additional mandatory charges bringing the total cost to several thousand dollars per application.
The proposed $100,000 fee is reportedly aimed at discouraging the over-reliance on the program by certain companies. President Donald Trump stated, quoted by NBC News: “Changes were needed in the visa system [...] it was designed to bring in temporary workers with ‘additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor.’” Such a high cost would strongly incentivize employers to prioritize the recruitment and training of American workers. Substantial revenue generated could be directed toward domestic STEM education and workforce development initiatives.
The proposal has been met with sharp criticism from the business and technology communities. Industry representatives call the figure punitive and economically damaging. Jeff Rummage, a reporter at BuiltIn, argues that a fee of this magnitude would be prohibitively expensive for all but the largest corporations, crippling startups, academic institutions, and research hospitals that rely on specialized international talent.
The suggestion adds a significant new dimension to the wider discussion of H-1B reform. Other proposals include replacing the current lottery system with a selection model that prioritizes candidates based on salary or skill level.
The proposal remains a suggestion and has not been formally introduced as legislation. If it were to move forward, it would face a lengthy and contentious process in Congress. For now, the idea has sharply highlighted the deep divisions in the national conversation over immigration, labor, and economic policy.
