In a major setback for former President Donald Trump’s administration, a US court has cancelled the proposed $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, calling the decision unlawful. The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa that allows skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States. It is widely used by technology companies and other employers to hire highly qualified workers from countries around the world, especially India. Previously, new H-1B visas were issued through a lottery system. However, the Trump administration announced significant changes, including a massive increase in the visa fee. The fee, which was around ₹1.32 lakh, was proposed to be raised to nearly ₹88 lakh (approximately $100,000). Since Indian professionals make up the largest share of H-1B visa holders, the proposed fee hike raised serious concerns among applicants, employers, and the IT industry. Following the announcement, governments from 20 US states filed a lawsuit in a Massachusetts federal court seeking to cancel the fee increase. After reviewing the case, Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that President Trump did not have the authority to impose such a fee without approval from the US Congress. The judge stated that Congress had never granted the president the power to increase H-1B visa fees in As a result, the court declared the government’s decision illegal and completely struck down the policy. The proposed fee increase had already caused a sharp decline in H-1B visa applications. According to reports released earlier this year, only 85 applicants had paid the $100,000 fee by February. During the previous financial year, around 343,000 people applied for H-1B visas. However, the number of applications has reportedly fallen by nearly 38% following the announcement of the higher fee. Experts believe the court’s ruling could provide relief to thousands of skilled foreign workers and US companies that depend on global talent. At the same time, legal analysts expect the Trump administration to challenge the decision through an appeal in a higher court. The H-1B visa program continues to play a vital role in sectors such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, finance, and research, making it one of the most important employment-based visa categories in the United States.
