US Government Proposes $103,265 Fee for H-1B Professional Visa Applications

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed charging applicants for H-1B professional visas a fee exceeding $100,000, Reuters reported on the 24th (local time).

According to the report, the Department of Homeland Security published a proposal in the Federal Register on the same day requiring a fee of $103,265 (approx. 143 million won) for new H-1B visa applications.

A 30-day public comment period begins today, and the measure is expected to be finalized around the end of the year, Reuters reported.

This follows a proclamation issued in September of last year by U.S. President Donald Trump setting the H-1B visa application fee at $100,000 and directing the Department of Homeland Security to establish an official framework.

The proclamation is valid for one year and is set to expire next month.

If finalized, the Department of Homeland Security proposal will sharply increase H-1B fees.

Reuters noted that previously, fees ranged between $2,000 and $5,000.

The $100,000 fee for H-1B visas has faced successive blocks in U.S. federal courts.

In June, a federal court in Massachusetts ruled that the fee was illegal, describing it as an unauthorized tax enacted without congressional approval.

The H-1B visa applies to specialized occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, with an annual issuance cap of 85,000 restricted through a lottery system.

It permits an initial three-year stay, with possibilities for extension and applications for permanent residency.

The Trump administration's perspective is that high-skilled foreign workers are taking jobs away from Americans, necessitating higher barriers to entry.

Based on fiscal year 2024 data for approved H-1B workers by country of origin, India ranked first at 71%, China second at 11.7%, and South Korea fifth at 1%.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.