The US Department of Homeland Security is planning to increase the H-1B visa fee to $103,265, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. The proposal would substantially raise the cost associated with the H-1B programme, which is used by employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.
Outlets describe the change as particularly consequential for applicants and employers from India, which accounts for more than 70% of H-1B beneficiaries. Coverage notes that this concentration means any major fee increase can affect a large share of those using the programme, potentially influencing hiring decisions and the overall cost of compliance for employers sponsoring H-1B workers.
While the sources agree on the core proposal and its scale, they focus on different implications: one outlet emphasizes the specific fee figure listed in the Federal Register, while another highlights the broader impact for India given its share of beneficiaries.
