U.S. administration proposes $1.03 lakh fee for H-1B visas
U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed a $103,265 standalone fee for certain H-1B cap applications, including the advanced degree exemption route.
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What happened: DHS proposes a $103,265 standalone H-1B cap fee
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a $103,265 fee for H-1B cap applications. The proposal also covers applications eligible for the advanced degree exemption. DHS described the proposed fee as separate from the existing H-1B petition fee rather than combined with it. DHS also stated that the standalone fee is intended to recover interagency costs connected with the rule, with standalone tracking, allocation, and revenue reporting.
Background: H-1B cap structure and the advanced degree portion
The H-1B cap numbers referenced in the news report are:
65,000 regular H-1B visas under the H-1B cap.An additional 20,000 H-1B visas reserved for workers holding a master’s degree or higher from U.S. institutions.
Legal context: courts rejected halting a Trump-era higher-fee plan
