$100k H-1B fee not for stay extensions, status changes: US

WASHINGTON: The US government exempted foreign students from its controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee on Monday, bringing relief to thousands of graduates — including from India who make up among the largest cohorts in American colleges who feared employers would abandon sponsorship plans due to the prohibitive cost.

- Shashank Mattoo

US Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified on its website that the new fee applies only to H-1B petitions involving individuals outside the US, meaning foreign students already in America can transition from F-1 student visas to H-1B work visas without triggering the charge.

The clarification marks a significant policy reversal that preserves a crucial pathway for international graduates.

"F-1 students can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Because the Proclamation’s $100,000 payment requirement applies only to H-1B petitions involving individuals outside the US, international graduates who remain in valid F-1 status and transition to H-1B domestically are spared from this costly new condition. This distinction provides welcome clarity and stability for students who have invested in their U.S. education and plan to continue contributing to the workforce," said Nicole Gurnara, principal immigration attorney at Manifest Law.