White House says $1,00,000 H-1B visa payment to be one-time cost

The White House issued a serious clarification Saturday (September 20, 2025) to its new H-1B visa coverage that had rattled the tech business, saying a $100,000 payment will probably be a “one-time” cost imposed solely on new candidates.

Trump’s $100K H-1B payment spares present visa holders, hits new circumstances | LIVE

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in saying the main payment improve on Friday (September 19), stated it could be paid yearly and would apply to folks in search of a brand new visa in addition to renewals.

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification on Saturday (September 20), hours earlier than the brand new coverage was to enter impact.

“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies… only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders,” she stated in a social media publish.

The government order, which is prone to face authorized challenges, comes into pressure Sunday at 12:01 a.m. U.S. Eastern time (0401 GMT), or 9:01 p.m. Saturday on the Pacific Coast.

Prior to the White House’s clarification, U.S. firms have been scrambling to determine the implications for his or her overseas employees, with a number of reportedly warning their staff to not depart the nation.

Some individuals who have been already on planes making ready to depart the nation on Friday de-boarded over fears they might not be allowed to re-enter the United States, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

“Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter,” Ms. Leavitt stated.

“H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would,” she added.

H-1B visas permit firms to sponsor overseas employees with specialised expertise — similar to scientists, engineers, and laptop programmers — to work within the United States, initially for 3 years however extendable to 6.

Such visas are broadly utilized by the tech business. Indian nationals account for practically three-quarters of the permits allotted by way of lottery system annually.

The United States accredited roughly 400,000 H-1B visas in 2024, two-thirds of which have been renewals.