Overview

• Effective September 21, the administration set a $100,000 fee for initial H‑1B filings, with officials clarifying it does not apply to current holders or extensions and is not an annual charge.
• JPMorgan economists estimate the policy could trim up to 5,500 immigrant work authorizations per month, while a Revelio Labs analyst warns losses could reach about 140,000 new jobs annually.
• Exposure is concentrated in computing roles and among Indian nationals, with roughly two‑thirds of approvals in tech occupations and about 71% from India in recent data.
• Confusion over the policy triggered a widely reported incident at San Francisco International Airport, where several India‑origin passengers left an Emirates flight, delaying departure for more than three hours.
• Alongside the fee, media reports describe premium residence options labeled Gold and Platinum, with contributions reportedly around $1 million for individuals, $2 million for corporate sponsorships, and $5 million for a Platinum tier that is being waitlisted and marketed with tax benefits.