In a major relief for thousands of visa holders in the United States, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that the newly announced $100,000 fee for a “change of status" to an H-1B visa will not apply to existing visa holders.

The clarification came through updated USCIS guidelines issued Monday, confirming that individuals already residing in the US on valid visas—such as F-1 student visas or L-1 professional visas—will not be required to pay the fee when applying for a change of status to H-1B. The exemption also extends to current H-1B visa holders seeking to renew or extend their status.

The $100,000 fee was introduced by US President Donald Trump through a proclamation issued on September 20, 2025. It stated that anyone applying for an H-1B visa on or af

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