Several states have united to challenge the Trump administration’s controversial $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. This fee, announced in September, marks a dramatic increase from the previous application cost of $2,000 to $5,000. The H-1B visa program is crucial for U.S. tech companies, such as Amazon and Microsoft, who rely on skilled foreign workers.
States Take Action Against H-1B Visa Fee
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading the lawsuit, announcing the legal action alongside 19 other attorneys general. Bonta labeled the fee as “unlawful” and stated it creates a significant barrier for employers seeking to hire international talent.
States Involved in the Lawsuit
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Impact on Essential Sectors
The attorneys general argue that imposing this fee will adversely affect critical areas like healthcare and education. Specifically, New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the fee as an “illegal attempt” to undermine the visa program, warning it could disrupt educational services and harm economic growth.
Additional Legal Challenges
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, representing over 300,000 businesses, has also filed a lawsuit against the fee. They assert that the fee could render the H-1B program financially unviable for many employers. In addition, a previous lawsuit by unions and education officials claimed that the Trump administration bypassed necessary regulatory processes when implementing the fee.
Furthermore, Global Nurse Force has taken legal action, arguing that the fee will hinder healthcare operations by limiting the availability of skilled nurses in hospitals. This could lead to increased wait times for patients in critical care units.
The White House has not yet commented on these lawsuits. As the legal battles unfold, the future of the $100,000 H-1B visa fee remains uncertain.
