US President Donald Trump renews $1,00,000 fee on H-1B visas, tightens scrutiny

Mangalore Today News Network

Washington, Sep 19, 2026: US President Donald Trump has extended by another year a $100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B visa applications, keeping the measure in place until September 21, 2027. The White House announced the extension along with a separate order aimed at increasing scrutiny of H-1B applications.

The $100,000 payment requirement was first introduced in September 2025. Under the renewed proclamation, the restriction applies to certain H-1B specialty-occupation workers who are outside the United States and seeking admission based on a new petition. The proclamation includes exceptions where the US Secretary of Homeland Security determines that hiring the worker is in the national interest.

The White House said H-1B registrations filed by the largest IT outsourcing firms fell by 92% after the 2025 measure took effect. The administration has said the policy is intended to address what it describes as abuses of the H-1B programme and protect US workers.

The extension comes as the $100,000 fee is facing legal challenges. A federal judge had previously ruled against the fee increase, and the matter is now being considered by a federal appeals court.

The administration has also ordered greater scrutiny of H-1B applications. The Secretaries of State, Labour and Homeland Security have been directed to consider employers’ recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated US workers when reviewing applications. The agencies have also been asked to improve coordination and consider additional information on wages, employment conditions and job specialisation.

The H-1B programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialised occupations, particularly in sectors such as technology. Indian nationals have historically accounted for the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries.

The White House has described the programme as having been abused by some employers and outsourcing firms, while business groups and other critics have disputed aspects of the administration’s approach. The renewed restrictions and their legal status remain subject to ongoing court proceedings.