Immigration law is a constantly changing landscape, and keeping up with new guidelines can be difficult. However, a significant change was announced by the Trump Administration that has changed how H-1B visas work. As such, if you are an H-1B visa holder or you are a company that hires skilled foreign workers, you’ll want to keep reading to learn more about these changes and the impact they can have on you. In addition, you’ll discover the importance of connecting with an H-1B visas – specialty occupations and fashion models lawyer to help you navigate these changing laws.
What Is the Recent Change to H-1B Visas?
An H-1B visa allows skilled foreign workers to work in the United States. Many companies find that this helps bridge the gap to ensure they can push the best products and services possible, while opponents believe that this takes opportunities away from citizens to fill these roles.
As of September 2025, President Donald Trump has changed the fee associated with H-1B visas. These used to carry fees ranging between $2,000 and $5,000. However, the administration has signed an executive order that now increases this cost to $100,000 as a means of incentivizing companies to hire domestic workers.
As H-1B visas are subject to review, the Department of Labor has also launched an initiative known as Project Firewall in conjunction with increasing the fees. This project allows the Secretary of Labor to personally certify investigations into alleged non-compliance by employers. The Office of the Secretary has stated that the purpose of these investigations is to ensure that no one is abusing the H-1B visa system, and if violations occur, the Department of Labor can penalize non-compliant companies. This can result in collecting back wages, fines and fees, and even a suspension of a company’s H-1B visa program for a period of time.
How Should These Changes Be Navigated?
If you are an H-1B worker in the United States, you’ll need to wait for guidance from your employer regarding this decision. A number of companies have already sent out instructions to employees regarding whether they should remain in the United States or inform employees who are currently outside of the United States to return as soon as possible. This is because the fee will not be applied to existing visa holders so long as they are already in the United States.
As a company that relies on H-1B visas, you may be worried about this change in cost. It is important to understand that any petitions approved before September 21, 2025, and existing visa holders will not be subject to this fee. However, this is a substantial change due to the increase in the H-1B fee. As such, companies impacted my need to restructure their budgets and could have to reduce how many of foreign workers they hire in the future.
In general, the majority of H-1B visas are used in the tech industry, with California housing the majority of those in the United States on this type of visa.
If you have not received word from your employer about the necessary steps you should take, or you recently applied for an H-1B visa and are unsure what will happen to your application, it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced immigration attorney. At Goel & Anderson, our team of employment immigration attorneys can help you navigate these tumultuous times. When you need assistance, contact us today to learn how we can assist you.
