U.S. Court Declares Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Unlawful, Citing Lack of Congressional Approval
A U.S. federal judge has invalidated President Trump's imposition of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, ruling it as an unauthorized tax. The decision came after 20 Democratic state attorneys general challenged the policy, which was introduced in September 2025. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston found that the policy exceeded the authority granted under the Administrative Procedure Act and immigration law. The fee had significantly increased costs for employers hiring high-skilled foreign workers, far surpassing the standard fees of under $8,000. The ruling is a relief for sectors like technology and healthcare that depend on foreign talent, as the H-1B program annually caps at 85,000 visas. 
