Overview
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking an injunction to stop the $100,000 charge on new H‑1B petitions and naming the Departments of Homeland Security and State as defendants.
- The complaint says the proclamation exceeds executive authority and violates the Immigration and Nationality Act’s fee framework, which ties visa charges to government processing costs.
- The White House defended the action as lawful and described it as an initial step toward H‑1B reforms intended to curb perceived abuses while preserving access to top global talent.
- Officials clarified the assessment is a one-time payment that applies only to new petitions, not to current H‑1B holders or most renewals.
- The filing follows an earlier lawsuit by unions and advocacy groups in California, as employers warn the fee would be cost‑prohibitive for startups and smaller firms, with some major IT companies signaling pauses in new H‑1B hiring or shifts toward local hiring.