Trumps New H 1b Fee Plan Clears White House Hurdle

A new Trump administration proposal that could change fees linked to H-1B visa petitions has cleared an important White House review, moving it a step closer to public release.

The Department of Homeland Security proposal received clearance from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, according to Bloomberg Law. The proposal is listed as RIN 1615-AD20 and is expected to be published soon.

The development is important for Indian professionals because the H-1B programme is widely used by workers in technology, engineering, healthcare and other specialised fields.

The proposal deals with petition fees for certain H-1B workers. However, the full rule has not yet been released.

That means the exact fee amounts, which employers or petitions would be affected and when the changes could take effect are still unclear.

The OIRA clearance does not mean any new fee is already in force.

The proposal must still be formally published and go through the federal rulemaking process before any changes can take effect.

The latest move comes as the Trump administration continues to push broader changes to the H-1B programme.

According to Bloomberg Law, DHS is moving ahead with the proposal amid other initiatives aimed at changing the H-1B system, including the $100,000 fee imposed last year on certain H-1B workers hired from outside the United States.

A separate DHS proposal is also under consideration.

That measure would revise eligibility for some H-1B cap exemptions, increase scrutiny of employers accused of violating programme rules and strengthen oversight of third-party placements.

The stated aim is to improve programme integrity and protect the wages and working conditions of US workers.

Indian nationals have historically made up a large share of H-1B beneficiaries, particularly in the US technology sector.

Any increase in petition-related fees could raise costs for companies sponsoring foreign workers.

Smaller employers that depend on specialised talent could feel the impact more strongly if filing costs rise significantly.

The latest proposal also follows the broader USCIS fee changes introduced in 2024, which increased or revised charges across several immigration categories, including H-1B-related filings.

The White House review is only one step in the process.

Once DHS publishes the proposed rule, employers, immigration lawyers, workers and other interested parties are expected to get an opportunity to submit public comments.

DHS will then review the feedback before deciding whether to issue a final rule.

For now, no new fee under this proposal has taken effect.

But the clearance shows that the Trump administration is continuing its effort to reshape the H-1B programme, with higher costs and tighter requirements still possible in the coming months.

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