A proposed $103,265 H-1B fee could sharply increase the cost for US employers that sponsor foreign professionals.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering the fee as part of a proposed change to the H-1B visa system.
The proposal remains under review. DHS has not yet published the full details.
If the fee takes effect, companies could face much higher costs when hiring eligible foreign workers through the H-1B programme.
Who could face the higher cost?
The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign professionals for certain specialised jobs.
Employers normally handle visa sponsorship costs. A six-figure fee could therefore add a large expense to the hiring process.
That could affect companies that rely on foreign workers to fill specialised roles.
Foreign professionals could also feel the impact if employers become less willing to sponsor new H-1B workers because of the higher cost.
The proposal could also affect international students who hope to move from US universities into jobs that require H-1B sponsorship.
The fee is not confirmed yet
The proposed $103,265 fee is still part of a rule under review.
The DHS has sent the proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The full proposal has not yet been released publicly.
The potential fee also follows an earlier $100,000 H-1B petition fee introduced by the administration that has faced legal challenges.
For now, employers and foreign professionals cannot treat $103,265 as a final charge.
The key question is what DHS will include when it formally publishes the proposed rule and whether the fee survives the legal and regulatory process.
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Last modified: August 28, 2026
