Is US Starts Approving H-1B Visas Without $100,000 Fee?

Indian tech professionals hoping to work in the US have a fresh reason to be optimistic. US immigration authorities have started approving certain H-1B petitions filed without the controversial $100,000 fee introduced under Donald Trump’s administration.

The development follows federal court orders blocking enforcement of the additional payment. Several employers had continued filing petitions without paying the fee but faced delays in getting decisions from USCIS.

The latest approvals could encourage companies to reconsider skilled professionals living outside the US who were earlier left out of recruitment plans because of the huge additional cost.

The fee primarily affected certain new H-1B petitions involving workers outside the US. With enforcement currently blocked by court orders, employers may find it easier to consider overseas candidates again, including Indian IT professionals.

However, this is not a complete clearance for everyone waiting for an H-1B visa. Some applications remain pending, and approval timelines are still uneven. Premium processing also does not guarantee that every petition will be approved within the expected timeframe.

The legal battle is not over either. The US government has appealed the court rulings, leaving the future of the $100,000 fee uncertain.

For Indians looking for US opportunities, the latest development offers some relief after months of uncertainty. But much will depend on how quickly pending petitions move and whether American companies are willing to restart overseas hiring.