The US wants to make the fee for new H-1B visas permanent at $103,000
Kyiv • UNN
The US Department of Homeland Security is proposing to make the fee for new H-1B visas permanent. Its legality is being challenged in court.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed making permanent a fee of $103,265 for new H-1B work visas for highly skilled foreign workers. Reuters reports, UNN writes.
Details
Trump first introduced this fee temporarily last year. Its validity expires in September, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed making it permanent. The rule could be finalized by the end of the year.
The H-1B program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized fields. Each year, 65,000 such visas are provided, plus another 20,000 for workers with higher education degrees. Before Trump's decision, obtaining an H-1B visa usually cost between $2,000 and $5,000.
The fee will not apply to people who are already in the United States on student visas, or to extensions of existing H-1B visas.
The decision is being challenged in court
In June, a federal judge ruled that the fee was unlawful and barred the administration from collecting it. The decision is being appealed in an appeals court.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, several states, and a coalition of labor unions and employers are also opposed to the fee. They argue that the administration lacks the authority to impose such charges without congressional approval.
Supporters of H-1B, in turn, say that the program is necessary for U.S. companies to attract qualified professionals in fields where the United States is experiencing a labor shortage.