California schools that need foreign workers for teacher jobs can’t afford Trump’s new visa fee

Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee threatens California’s ability to fill critical teacher shortages in special education and bilingual programs.

International teachers feel unwelcome and uncertain about staying in California, with some planning to return home after their visas expire.

There is a new cost to hiring an international worker to fill a vital but otherwise vacant position in a California classroom: $100,000.

In September, the Trump administration began requiring American employers to pay a $100,000 sponsorship fee for new H-1B visas, on top of already required visa application fees that amount to $9,500 to $18,800, depending on various factors. These visas allow skilled and credentialed workers in multiple job sectors to stay in the U.S.

Most foreign workers on H-1Bs in Cal