Washington DC: US Vice President JD Vance backed support for a proposed new six-figure fee for H-1B visas that would apply to most new applicants. The fee stands at $103,265, replacing an earlier plan to charge $100,000 for the visa that was struck down by the courts.
In a post on X, the US Vice President reshared a report by the Wall Street Journal on the issue and said, “If an American corporation needs workers, it should hire and train Americans.”
If an American corporation needs workers, it should hire and train Americans. https://t.co/C72ZYmONpK
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 24, 2026
His remarks came after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a filing on Monday proposed establishing a $103,265 fee, payable at the time of filing, for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The fee would be imposed in addition to all other applicable fees or payments.
In the document, the DHS said the fee would serve as a dedicated revenue mechanism to help recover a portion of the government’s costs of administering the lawful immigration system, covering the ambit of activities by DHS, US Departments of Justice, State and Labour.
The document noted that the public has 30 days to submit comments in response.
H-1B visas allow foreign professionals to seek work in professions that are considered more specialized. Applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree or a similar equivalent, and the visa is valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years.
While the rule is not final, the process could take months before it is made official, especially if it faces legal challenges.
The latest proposal comes after Trump suffered a legal setback in June when US District Judge Leo Sorokin threw out the previous fee. As per CNN, the Boston-based judge found that the president lacked authority to impose the new policy and that only Congress had the power to change federal immigration policy to include such a requirement, which Sorokin viewed as a tax.
