$100,000 fee will not apply to existing H-1B visa holders, clarifies US

The Trump administration has clarified that the recently announced $100,000 fee for H-1B visa will apply only once per petition and will not apply to existing visa holders.

The clarification came on Saturday after remarks by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick a day earlier that suggested the fee would be charged annually and apply to both new applications and renewals.

His comments prompted concern among major technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google parent Alphabet, which urged employees on H-1B visas to avoid international travel.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to calm those fears, stressing that the rule applies only to first-time applicants.

“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition,” she said in a statement.

Also Read: Trump raises H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually for skilled worker applicants

“Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter… This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders,” she added.

The executive order authorising the new charge was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday and is set to take effect Sunday at 12:01 a.m. (04:01 GMT). The measure is valid for one year but may be extended if the administration deems it necessary.

The H-1B program allows US companies to employ foreign workers with specialized expertise, particularly in science, engineering and technology. The visas, distributed through a lottery system, are typically valid for three years and can be extended to six. Indian nationals represent nearly 75 percent of recipients, making them the most affected group.