$100K H-1B visa surcharge is one-time, affects only first-time applicants: US

$100K H-1B Fee Applies Only to New Applicants, Not Current Visa Holders: US.

The White House has clarified that the $100,000 fee announced by President Trump for H-1B visa applications will apply only to new petitions filed on or after September 21. Current H-1B holders, including those abroad, will not be charged for renewals or re-entry.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “This is a one-time fee, not annual, and applies only to new applications. Current visa holders can travel to and from the US as usual.” USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that petitions filed before the effective date, approved petitions, and valid H-1B visas remain unaffected.

Trump’s order, titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Non-immigrant Workers,” had triggered panic among H-1B workers, especially Indians, with fears of being stranded abroad. Many immediately scrapped travel plans to India, while others rushed back ahead of Diwali and year-end holidays.

India’s IT industry body Nasscom warned the fee could disrupt operations of technology services firms, and the MEA said it is monitoring the changes for potential humanitarian impacts on families.

The H-1B programme, aimed at filling high-skilled US jobs, traditionally uses a lottery system, with top employers including Amazon, TCS, Microsoft, Apple, and Google. The visas are valid for three years and renewable for another three.