The White House moved quickly to ease concerns after President Donald Trump’s Saturday order introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the charge is a one-time fee for new petitions only, not annual or retroactive.
Leavitt emphasised that existing H-1B visa holders, whether in the US or abroad, will not have to pay the fee to re-enter the country. Their travel rights remain unchanged.
She also clarified that renewals are excluded, and the fee will take effect in the next visa lottery cycle, not immediately.
“Those already on H-1B visas, including individuals travelling abroad, will not be asked to pay this amount upon re-entry,” Leavitt said in a post on X, noting that the new rules will start with the upcoming lottery cycle.
This clarification has come as significant relief to thousands of professionals, especially Indians employed in the vast US IT sector, who make up nearly three-quarters of H-1B visa holders. – Agencies
To be clear:
1.) This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.
2.) Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter.
H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 20, 2025
