$100,000 relief: US clarifies new H-1B fee won’t apply to existing visa holders

WASHINGTON: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will not apply to those seeking a “change of status” or “extension of stay”.The new guidelines are expected to ease confusion after weeks of uncertainty among foreign professionals and US-based companies dependent on high-skilled visa holders.The guidelines clarified the exemptions to US President Donald Trump’s September 19 proclamation.”The Proclamation does not apply to any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025,” the USCIS said.It added that the proclamation also does not prevent any current H1-B holder from travelling in and out of the US, which has been a majo