Trump’s $100K H1B fee: A shock move threatening the American dream

Various immigration groups and attorneys might be preparing court challenges, citing potential violations of due process and economic harm.

- KHANDERAO KAND

On the tail end of 19 September, Friday, US President Donald J. Trump suddenly signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on each new H1B visa petition that literally stunned the global technology sector, all H1B holders, and foreign students alike.

Moreover, it set to take effect within less than 36 hours at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2025. The order requires US employers to pay the fee to sponsor new high-skilled workers, and without proof of payment, H1B holders could be denied reentry.

The suddenness and huge impact of the order caused immediate chaos among H1B holders, foreign students, and corporations. Big tech firms rushed out urgent memos urging employees abroad to return before the deadline, triggering a frantic scramble for flights. Weddings were postponed, fiancées stranded in Europe, and some travellers even deplaned at the last minute, delaying flights. The ambiguity and weekend timing left many questioning the motive behind such a disruptive rollout, forcing the White House and DHS/USCIS to issue late-weekend clarifications that current H1B holders need not panic or rush back. Still, the proclamation left grey areas around H1B renewals, transfers to new employers, and F-1 or OPT students applying for H1B, keeping uncertainty high despite the reassurances.