US Court Upholds Trump’s $100,000 Visa Fee for Tech Workers

A United States federal court has upheld President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 processing fee on H-1B visas, a move expected to significantly impact technology firms and higher education institutions.

Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, US District Judge Beryl Howell said the president acted within his statutory powers, noting that immigration policies tied to economic and national security concerns fall under broad executive authority.

The judge acknowledged that the fee could cause serious financial strain for businesses and universities that rely on skilled foreign workers, but ruled that potential economic harm alone was insufficient to invalidate the policy

The fee, announced in September, took effect with just 36 hours’ notice, triggering widespread confusion among employers over its scope and implementation.

The H-1B visa programme issues 85,000 visas annually through a lottery system, with Indian nationals accounting for about three-quarters of recipients. President Trump has argued that the programme is often abused to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour.

The policy has drawn criticism from tech leaders who warn that restricting access to global talent could worsen labour shortages and slow innovation.

The lawsuit was filed by the US Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities, which argued that H-1B workers make significant contributions to US productivity and economic growth. Additional legal challenges to the visa fee remain ongoing.