White House Clarifies $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee: New Applicants Only

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Washington – The White House has confirmed that the newly introduced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will apply only to new petitions and will not affect current H-1B holders re-entering the United States. The clarification comes after widespread confusion among companies and workers following the announcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order last Friday.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained on Saturday that the charge is a one-time fee per petition under the next H-1B lottery, rather than an annual levy.

“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition,” Leavitt said on X, clarifying remarks made earlier by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who had suggested the fee might recur yearly.

Before the clarification, major U.S. employers such as Microsoft, Amazon, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs urged employees on H-1B visas to limit international travel, fearing unexpected costs.

India’s top technology association, Nasscom, warned that the new fee could disrupt operations for outsourcing firms that deploy skilled professionals to U.S. offices. The group also cautioned that the sharp rise in costs could reduce the number of workers sent abroad.

According to the administration, the steep fee is aimed at protecting American workers from being replaced by lower-cost foreign labor. At the same time, the White House said exemptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis for applications deemed in the national interest.

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