(US, 21st) The White House said on Saturday (September 20) that a new regulation regarding H-1B visas, effective from Sunday (21st), will impose a $100,000 fee for each application, but this does not apply to existing valid visa holders re-entering the United States.
According to Reuters, White House spokesperson Levitt posted on social media platform X, saying: “This is not an annual fee, but a one-time fee, and only applies to applications.”
Levitt also stated that current H-1B visa holders who are overseas will not be charged the $100,000 fee when re-entering the United States.
US Secretary of Commerce Lutnick said on Friday (19th) that this fee would be collected annually, but added that details are “still under consideration.”
According to internal company emails seen by Reuters, several companies, including Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon, have advised their H-1B visa-holding employees to remain in the US since the announcement on Friday.
Levitt said on X that H-1B visa holders can continue to enter and exit the US as usual, and the new fee applies only to the next round of H-1B lottery applications, not to existing holders or renewals.
The White House stated that this fee aims to create a level playing field for American workers, claiming they are being replaced by low-wage foreign labor.
In a statement released Saturday, the White House said that H-1B visa applications may be exempted from the $100,000 fee in certain cases if it is in the national interest.
This policy has sparked concern among employees of American companies.
According to reports, on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, many H-1B holders have shared their experiences of rushing back to the US just hours after arriving overseas.
According to Reuters, White House spokesperson Levitt posted on social media platform X, saying: “This is not an annual fee, but a one-time fee, and only applies to applications.”
Levitt also stated that current H-1B visa holders who are overseas will not be charged the $100,000 fee when re-entering the United States.
US Secretary of Commerce Lutnick said on Friday (19th) that this fee would be collected annually, but added that details are “still under consideration.”
According to internal company emails seen by Reuters, several companies, including Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon, have advised their H-1B visa-holding employees to remain in the US since the announcement on Friday.
Levitt said on X that H-1B visa holders can continue to enter and exit the US as usual, and the new fee applies only to the next round of H-1B lottery applications, not to existing holders or renewals.
The White House stated that this fee aims to create a level playing field for American workers, claiming they are being replaced by low-wage foreign labor.
In a statement released Saturday, the White House said that H-1B visa applications may be exempted from the $100,000 fee in certain cases if it is in the national interest.
This policy has sparked concern among employees of American companies.
According to reports, on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, many H-1B holders have shared their experiences of rushing back to the US just hours after arriving overseas.