US H-1B Visa 2025: Trump govt details exceptions to $100,000 fee; Know where & how to apply and who needs to pay

Under the new guidance, any H-1B visa petitions filed at or after 12:01am (local time) eastern daylight time on September 21 will be denied if they are not accompanied with a copy of the proof of the payment of $100,000 fee from pay.gov or evidence of an exception from the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Who will be required to pay $100,000?

The proclamation of $100,000 fee payment for H-1B visa applicants applies to those who have filed their petitions at or after 12:01am (local time) on September 21 on behalf of beneficiaries who are outside the United States and do not have a valid H-1B visa. The $100,000 fee would also be applied if the petition filed requests consular notification, port of entry notification, or pre-flight inspection for an alien in the United States, the USCIS said.

According to USCIS, “If a petition filed at or after 12:01am eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, requests a change of status or amendment or extension of stay and USCIS determines that the alien is ineligible for a change of status or an amendment or extension of stay, the Proclamation will apply and the payment must be paid according to the instructions provided by USCIS.”

Exceptions by Homeland Secretary

• Exceptions to the $100,000 H-1B visa fee payment would be granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security in ‘extraordinarily rare circumstances’.
• The secretary determines that the presence of a particular alien worker in the US is in national interest.
• No American worker is available to fill the role of the particular alien worker
• Alien worker does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of US citizens.

How to pay $100,000 visa fee?

The petitioners for H-1B visa applications are required to submit the $100,000 amount via pay.gov following the instructions provided at the public forum website of the payment gateway.