'Clarification' on H-1B visa fees

WASHINGTON: The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry, saying a US$100,000 (3.2 million baht) fee will be a “onetime” payment imposed only on new applicants.

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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in announcing the major fee increase on Friday, said it would be paid annually, and would apply to people seeking a new visa as well as renewals.

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification on Saturday, hours before the new policy was to go into effect.

“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a onetime fee that applies... only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders,’ she said in a social media post.

The executive order, which is likely to face legal challenges, came into force yesterday at 12.01am US Eastern time, or 9.01pm Saturday on the Pacific Coast.

Prior to the White House's clarification, US companies were scrambling to figure out the implications for their foreign workers, with several reportedly warning their employees not to leave the country.

Some people who were already on planes preparing to leave the country on Friday de-boarded over fears they may not be allowed to reenter the United States, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.