US Immigration: U.S. Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Proposed $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

In a major relief for Indian professionals working or seeking employment in the United States, a Boston court has struck down the Trump administration’s proposal to impose an additional $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The court ruled that the President does not have the legal authority to introduce such a substantial fee without approval from Congress, declaring the plan unlawful. The decision came after a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of 20 Democratic-led states challenging the proposed policy. The Trump administration had announced the fee hike proposal in September last year as part of broader efforts to tighten immigration rules and make the H-1B visa process more restrictive. The ruling is expected to provide significant relief to thousands of skilled foreign workers, including a large number of Indian professionals who rely on the H-1B visa program for employment opportunities in the U.S.