Recent headlines have brought big changes to the U.S. H-1B visa program: a proposed $100,000 application fee for many applicants. This is a major shift in how the U.S. wants to manage immigration for skilled workers. Here’s a breakdown of what we know so far, what people are saying, and what it might mean if you’re an employee, an employer, or just someone following immigration policy.

Key Facts on the New H-1B Fee

• Under a new executive order, H-1B visa applicants from outside the U.S. who enter the 2026 lottery will face a one-time fee of $100,000.
  
• This new fee does not apply to those applying from within the U.S., to renewals, or to applicants from the 2025 lottery.
  
• The proclamation is only valid for 1 year.

• The restriction shall not apply to any individual alien, all aliens working for a company, or all aliens working in an industry, if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, in the Secretary’s discretion, that the hiring of such aliens to be employed as H-1B specialty occupation workers is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States

• Alongside the H-1B change, another policy being floated is a “Gold Card” visa: a fast-track immigration path for individuals who invest at least $1 million in the U.S.

Implications: What To Watch

• For job seekers abroad: Higher upfront costs mean the calculus of moving to the U.S. changes. You’ll want to negotiate whether your employer covers visa fees, or consider alternative routes (remote work, other countries) if this becomes too prohibitive.
  
• For employers (especially small to medium, startups, academia, non-profits): Budgets will need to account for much higher visa costs. Some projects or hiring plans may become untenable. There may be increased incentive to invest in domestic hiring, remote work, or hiring via other visa types.
  
• For policy and courts: Look out for legislative pushback, congressional hearings, and court challenges. Also, watch how the White House and Department of Commerce defend the policy, whether revisions emerge, and whether carve-outs or exemptions are created.
  
• For international students and researchers: Many came to the U.S. expecting that after study comes opportunity. If the visa path becomes costlier, fewer may stay; fewer might apply in the first place. Research labs, universities, and companies that rely on highly skilled foreign talent will likely feel the impact.

What This Means for You

For many foreign workers, this policy doesn’t just change the cost of applying — it changes the entire calculation of whether the U.S. is a viable career destination. While those already inside the U.S. applying for extensions or pursuing an H-1B transfer may not be directly affected, future applicants abroad could face serious new barriers.

Employers will need to factor this fee into their budgets, and workers will need to carefully evaluate whether to pursue opportunities in the U.S. or explore other countries with more accessible immigration policies.

Final Thoughts

This $100,000 H-1B application fee is more than a policy shift, it’s a test of values. How much are we willing to make opportunities conditional on wealth? Will innovation be hindered, or will hiring practices become more responsible? Will this policy produce real protection for U.S. workers, or will it just create new barriers for many others?

Change is coming fast. Whether this policy stands, is modified, or is challenged in court remains to be seen. For now, employers and employees should pay attention, prepare, and speak up.

At ILOLA, we believe that talent should be recognized based on quality, not capacity to pay fees. The shift toward steep visa fees threatens to place financial barbed wire across opportunity. While protecting American workers is vital, policies should be crafted so that they:

• Don’t squeeze out less well-funded innovators or researchers.
• Remain transparent, with mechanisms for checking abuse without punishing legitimate applicants.
• Balance immediate economic concerns with long-term benefits of diversity in ideas, skills, and backgrounds.