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2h ago

U.S. Imposes $100,000 H‑1B Fee for New Applicants as Tech Employers Scramble

The one-time charge applies only to future lottery entrants, narrowing scope yet forcing rapid reassessments of hiring and mobility plans.

Peking, China
Flag of USA on a processor, CPU Central processing Unit or GPU microchip on a motherboard. US firms have become the latest collateral damage in US-China tech war. US blocks sales of AI chips to China.
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Overview

  • Effective since Sept. 21 at 12:01 a.m. EDT for one year, the fee is a single charge tied to the February 2026 H‑1B lottery and does not apply to current visa holders or renewals, according to White House clarifications.
  • Major employers including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Goldman Sachs issued urgent travel guidance to H‑1B staff as thousands canceled trips and flights were delayed, with reports highlighting heavy disruption at San Francisco International Airport and acute effects on Indian nationals.
  • Analysts at TD Cowen warn the pricing shock could run to billions for Big Tech and IT services firms and prompt shifts in staffing models, including more hiring in Canada and Latin America and greater reliance on offshore teams.
  • Governments abroad are moving to attract displaced talent, with South Korea developing recruitment plans, China preparing a new visa category from Oct. 1, and the UK exploring fee changes for top global candidates.
  • Alongside the H‑1B change, the White House launched a paid 'Gold Card' pathway that grants residency to individuals who pay $1 million or to companies that sponsor a worker for $2 million.