H-1B fee of $100,000 won’t apply to status change, extension cases: USCIS

Indians account for about 71% of approved H-1B visas

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The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Monday issued new guidelines clarifying that the steep USD 100,000 fee announced by the Trump administration for new H-1B visa petitions will not apply to individuals seeking a “change of status” or “extension of stay.”

The clarification narrows the scope of President Donald Trump’s September 19 proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, which had triggered widespread concern among employers and foreign professionals alike.

According to the USCIS, the USD 100,000 (approximately INR 88 lakh) fee applies only to new H-1B petitions filed for workers outside the United States who seek to enter the country. “The Proclamation does not apply to any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m.