Washington, Oct 24: The Trump administration has defended its decision to hike the H-1B visa fee to $100,000, emphasizing that the move is aimed at combating fraud and protecting American workers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that the administration is committed to refining the visa system, which has long been plagued by abuse.
“For far too long, the H-1B visa system has been spammed with fraud, and that’s driven down American wages,” Leavitt said. “The president wants to refine this system, which is part of the reason he implemented these new policies. These actions are lawful, they are necessary, and we’ll continue to fight this battle in court.”
The comments follow legal challenges filed by the US Chamber of Commerce, along with unions, employers, and religious groups, who argue that the fee hike violates the Immigration and Nationality Act. Critics say the $100,000 fee will make it cost prohibitive for US companies, particularly start ups and small to mid size businesses, to hire skilled foreign workers through the H-1B program.
Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President of the Chamber, stated:
“The new $100,000 visa fee will make it cost prohibitive for US employers to utilize the H-1B program, which Congress created to ensure American businesses can access global talent.”
The fee increase, announced in September, is part of Trump’s broader agenda to secure American jobs, implement pro-growth reforms, and address perceived abuses in the H-1B system. Under the executive order, companies will pay the $100,000 fee in addition to existing vetting charges when sponsoring H-1B visas.
The administration has vowed to contest all legal challenges in federal courts, maintaining that the policy is both lawful and necessary to protect American workers and strengthen the visa system.