US Lawmakers Ask Trump to Cancel $100,000 H-1B Fee Hike

A group of seven US Congress members from both Democratic and Republican parties has urged the Trump administration to cancel the decision to increase the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000. They sent a formal letter to President Donald Trump and the Commerce Secretary, warning that the policy could harm the US economy.

The lawmakers stated that such a steep fee hike would negatively affect innovation, especially for startups and small businesses in the United States. They pointed out that highly skilled professionals from countries like India have contributed significantly to America’s technological and economic progress, and this move could drive such talent away.

According to the letter, increasing the fee will not effectively prevent the misuse of the H-1B program. While they support reforms, they believe this decision is not the right solution. They added that big corporations might still manage the cost, but smaller companies would be forced to stop hiring foreign talent, which could push projects overseas.

The Congress members urged the administration to instead crack down on outsourcing companies that misuse the system by underpaying workers, and to work with Congress on modernizing the H-1B program.

Following public backlash, the Trump administration clarified that the $100,000 is a one-time application fee and not a yearly charge. It also issued guidelines stating that the fee applies only to candidates applying for H-1B visas from outside the US, after a lawsuit by the US Chamber of Commerce.