Washington DC (US), BNN Web Staff: US President Donald Trump has backed a proposed new fee on H-1B visa applications, saying the measure would encourage American companies to hire and train domestic workers before recruiting skilled professionals from overseas.
In his Labour Day proclamation issued on Monday, Trump said the proposed fee was aimed at strengthening employment opportunities for American workers.
“To ensure we are hiring and training American workers, we are proposing a new fee on H-1B visa petitions that will encourage companies to invest in qualified Americans before looking overseas for labour,” Trump said.
The announcement places the closely watched H-1B visa programme within the Trump administration’s broader agenda of promoting domestic employment, manufacturing and economic growth.
The H-1B programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialised occupations and is widely used by technology companies and other businesses seeking skilled professionals. Indian nationals have traditionally accounted for the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries, making any changes to the programme particularly significant for Indian professionals and the wider Indian-American community.
Proposed Fee Is Not Yet an Active Charge
The financial requirement referred to by Trump is not a new fee introduced on Labour Day. The Department of Homeland Security had previously proposed a USD 103,265 fee for certain cap-subject H-1B petitions, including those eligible for the advanced-degree exemption.
The proposed amount would be paid at the time of filing in addition to existing immigration-related costs. The proposal is currently moving through the federal regulatory process and is not an active charge.
Trump linked the H-1B proposal to his administration’s wider efforts to encourage companies to invest in the US workforce.
“After decades of disastrous trade policies that surrendered our industrial strength to foreign nations, companies are now returning home, investing trillions of dollars into the United States economy, and adding over 900,000 American jobs,” he said.
The President also highlighted manufacturing growth and credited his administration’s economic policies and tariffs with encouraging companies to expand production in the United States.
“Our Nation is entering a bold new era of American manufacturing, technological innovation, and economic prosperity — powered by the might of the American worker,” Trump said.
The proclamation officially designated September 7 as Labour Day, recognising the contribution of American workers.
Earlier $100,000 H-1B Fee Faced Legal Challenge
The latest proposal comes after an earlier attempt by the Trump administration to impose a USD 100,000 fee on certain new H-1B entrants.
That measure was struck down by a Massachusetts federal judge in June, who found that the administration had exceeded its executive authority. In July, an appeals court also rejected the administration’s request for a stay.
Unlike that earlier measure, the USD 103,265 fee is currently being pursued through the federal regulatory process as a proposed rule rather than being imposed as an immediate charge.
The proposed changes are being closely watched by US employers, technology companies and foreign skilled professionals, particularly in India, which remains the largest source of H-1B visa holders.
