US court rejects Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee: What it means for Indians

Summary

US President Donald Trump’s administration received a jolt from a federal appeals court after judges rejected its bid to revive a $100,000 fee on new H-1B work visa visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The Trump administration had announced the steep hike in H-1B visa fees to discourage companies from hiring foreign workers over Americans. US District Court Judge Leo Sorokin concluded that the executive branch exceeded its authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. “The Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress,” Judge Sorokin wrote. Successful applicants are typically granted visas valid for three to six years by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS (U.S. immigration agency)). The policy, announced in September 2025, significantly reduced demand for new H-1B petitions, Bloomberg reported. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell welcomed the appeals court’s decision, calling it a victory for employers that rely on highly skilled foreign workers. “Today’s victory protects the integrity of the H-1B visa program as a tool to address severe labor shortages in vital industries like education, healthcare, and medical research,” Campbell said. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...