US announces list of applicants that qualifies for H-1B $100K fee exemption

President Trump has issued a proclamation making it mandatory for all US employers to pay $100,000 fee before hiring a foreign worker under the H-1B visa program. The proclamation states that all US employers hiring foreign workers in the 2026 H-1B lottery and other H-1B petitions submitted after September 21, 2025, will be required to pay a $100K fee.

The new H-1B $100K fee has already prompted many companies to change their plans for hiring foreign workers.