With uncertainty around H-1B visa fee, U.S. businesses unsure how to move forward

Article excerpt

A federal judge this week struck down the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on H-1B visas for companies with significant reliance on the visa program, invalidating the policy after 20 states sued. The ruling has left American businesses in limbo about how to proceed with hiring plans that depend on the visa category, which allows companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. The policy faced immediate legal challenges even before it took effect, with critics arguing it would harm businesses dependent on international talent while proponents said it would encourage firms to hire American workers instead.