Overview

• The one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions is now in effect, and DHS has proposed a wage-weighted selection system that is out for public comment.
• A Washington Monthly analysis argues the fee functions as a de facto ban, predicts more offshoring and weaker U.S. competitiveness, and proposes auctioning the 85,000 annual slots instead.
• A letter to the Las Vegas Review-Journal condemns the program as exploitative, citing episodes of U.S. employees training lower-paid visa holders who then replaced them.
• India-focused reporting says the higher cost could deter U.S. hiring of Indian graduates and push students toward Europe, with some voices calling it an opportunity for India to retain talent.
• Senator Chuck Grassley urged DHS to end work authorizations for student-visa holders, citing job competition and espionage concerns.