The Trump administration increased the cost of applying for an H-1B visa from about $1,000 to $100,000, a sudden change that has unsettled businesses and international students. The new rule took effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 21, following a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on September 19. It applies only to “new applicants” and has been described as a one-time payment at initial filing.
![U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation accompanied by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 21, 2025. [REUTERS]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/0626-Trump.jpg)
The H-1B visa is issued by lottery with an annual cap of 85,000. It permits an initial stay of three years, can be extended, and may lead to permanent residency. Until now, the main filing costs were a $215 registration fee and a $780 petition fee—about $1,000 total. The new policy raises that initial cost by a factor of 100.
Microsoft, Google, and Amazon instructed employees abroad to return to the United States quickly and suspend travel plans. Other major employers of H-1B holders, including Meta and Apple, issued similar warnings. These advisories came in response to the sudden fee increase taking effect on September 21.
Uncertainty remains over whether the $100,000 charge also applies to status changes inside the United States, such as students completing Optional Practical Training (OPT) before applying. Many Korean American students fall into this category. One student preparing to file after OPT said, “It feels like this means anyone who isn’t American should just go back to their country. I’ve already spent a huge amount on tuition, and this feels unfair.” Another Korean graduate, who had already filed through an employer and was waiting in Korea, added, “It seems the $100,000 fee doesn’t apply in my case, but I can’t be certain, which is frustrating.”
Confusion deepened when Howard Lutnick Secretary of Commerce said, “You have to pay the same amount ($100,000) every year to renew H-1B,” alarming employers. The White House later clarified on social media that the fee is a one-time payment at the first application for new applicants.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the top H-1B recipients in fiscal year 2024–2025 were Amazon (10,044), Tata Consultancy Services (5,505), Microsoft (5,198), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), and Google (4,181).
Separately, starting September 30, the fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will increase from $21 to $40. ESTA allows visa-free entry to the U.S. for up to 90 days for tourism or business.
