H-1B Visa $100K Toll: Why US employers may still pay big for foreign skills

H-1B visa has become costlier for US companies. For every H-1B petition filed to hire a foreign worker, the US employer has to pay a $100,000 fee to the US government. The $100,000 H-1B petition fee is in place since September 21, 2025, and will apply for the 2027 H-1B cap season as well.

Will the newly imposed $100,000 H-1B petition fee deter US companies from hiring foreign workers?

A study authored by George J. Borjas, Harvard University and NBER suggests that firms may be willing to pay a one-time fee to obtain the visa.