What to know about Trump's US$100,000 fee on H-1B visas and the court decision that struck it down

Trump dramatically raised the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000, up from $215, with the policy unveiled last September and taking effect within 24 hours. A federal judge on Monday struck down the fee, ruling that the White House exceeded its authority by acting without congressional approval. H-1B visas are nonimmigrant permits designed for specialists with a bachelor’s degree, typically valid for three years and extendable to six. Employers are capped at 65,000 visas annually, plus 20,000 for master's or higher, with exemptions for universities. Pew data show about 700,000 H-1B holders and 500,000 dependents; India accounted for roughly 75% of approvals in 2023.