Overview

• The White House said the fee is now required for entry under the H‑1B program, with President Donald Trump signing the proclamation on Friday.
• It remains unclear whether the $100,000 charge will stack on top of existing H‑1B fees such as lottery registration and Form I‑129 filing.
• The proclamation directs the Labor Secretary to begin revising prevailing‑wage rules for H‑1B positions through rulemaking.
• Separately, Senator Jim Banks introduced the American Tech Workforce Act to raise H‑1B wage floors, end OPT, prioritize highest‑compensation applications over the lottery, and curb third‑party placements.
• Banks’ bill enters committee review with an uncertain outlook as technology employers, staffing firms and advocacy groups prepare to scrutinize the measures and potential implementation.