The Trump administration is taking another major step toward reshaping the US H-1B visa program, proposing a six-figure fee that could dramatically change how American companies recruit highly skilled foreign workers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed requiring employers to pay an additional $103,265 when filing certain new H-1B petitions subject to the annual numerical cap.

The proposal represents one of the most significant attempts yet by the administration to make the H-1B system more restrictive and expensive for private-sector employers. While it does not eliminate the program, the financial burden could substantially reduce the number of companies willing to participate in the annual H-1B lottery.

The H-1B program has become a major source of controversy in the United States. Supporters argue that it allows American businesses to recruit highly educated workers in specialized fields where qualified domestic employees may be difficult to find. Critics, however, contend that the system has increasingly been used by companies to obtain foreign workers at lower costs, potentially reducing employment opportunities and wage growth for American workers.

That debate has intensified under President Donald Trump, whose administration has repeatedly promised to reform immigration programs and prioritize American workers.

The proposed DHS rule follows a series of efforts to impose greater restrictions on H-1B visas. In September 2025, Trump issued a presidential proclamation seeking to impose a $100,000 payment on new H-1B applications. The measure faced immediate legal challenges, with opponents arguing that the administration was effectively imposing a tax without congressional authorization.

The latest proposal takes a somewhat different approach. Rather than presenting the payment as a tax, DHS describes the $103,265 charge as a fee associated with recovering administrative costs connected to the immigration process. That distinction could become important if the proposal is challenged in........

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