US raises H-1B visa fee to $103,265 and targets 200,000 asylum seekers

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a significant increase in the fee for H-1B visas, raising the cost to $103,265. This new rate supersedes a previous $100,000 fee that was struck down by a federal judge in June, a ruling that came only after more than 70 employers had already paid the higher amount. The move signals a continued tightening of immigration policy under the Trump administration, which has increasingly utilised visa systems to manage the flow of legal immigrants.

Simultaneously, the State Department has outlined plans to revoke up to 200,000 business and travel visas issued between 2016 and 2026. According to The Associated Press, this initiative would constitute the largest mass visa revocation in US history. The visas targeted belong to individuals who subsequently applied for asylum after arriving in the United States. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that the administration is coordinating with DHS to identify these individuals, describing the measure as a way to close a loophole where foreigners claimed to be short-term visitors before filing for asylum.

H-1B visas are heavily utilised by major technology companies, with Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft identified as the three largest employers of H-1B workers. Critics argue that the fee increase places a disproportionate burden on the sector, potentially driving companies to start operations or hire talent elsewhere. Todd Schulte, president of the immigration reform organisation FWD.us, described the new measures as part of an "all-of-government approach" to gut the humanitarian immigration system. He noted that every other pathway for immigration has become harder, more bureaucratic, or eliminated entirely.

The impact of the policy changes is not limited to the technology sector. The previous fee hike contributed to labour shortages in rural hospitals across the country and in public schools in Alaska, both of which rely on high-skilled immigrant workers to address local population declines. While the $100,000 fee was an inconvenience for large tech firms, it was described as catastrophic for rural communities already struggling to attract qualified candidates. The administration’s current stance suggests that only immigrants who can pay a substantial sum for the privilege of working in America are favoured.

DHS has also hinted that the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program may soon carry a $100,000 fee of its own. The OPT program allows international students to work in their field of study for 12 months, with extensions available for some STEM students and holders of certain graduate degrees. Advocates and business leaders are concerned that this additional cost will further restrict the ability of companies to retain skilled foreign talent.

The administration frames these changes as necessary to close loopholes in the asylum system, particularly given that an effective "asylum ban" is in place at the US-Mexico border and refugee admissions have dropped to record lows. However, critics point out that individuals who applied for asylum on nonimmigrant visas did not break any laws, as applicants must be present on US soil to make the claim. With the administration now prioritising the resettlement of white South Africans and denying almost everyone else, the visa revocations are seen as part of a broader effort to limit humanitarian migration.