White House Clarifies $100K H-1B Fee: New Petitions Only, Not Current Holders

The White House clarified on Saturday that the newly announced $100,000 fee for H-1B visas will apply only to new petitions, not to current H-1B holders, renewals, or re-entry of existing beneficiaries.

The clarification follows mixed statements from officials after the policy's rollout this week. Technology and finance employers had warned staff about travel and filing timelines; the guidance narrows the immediate impact to upcoming petition cycles and future lottery rounds.

Attorneys still expect legal challenges and agency guidance to shape edge cases in the coming days.