H‑1B Visa Fee Hike Challenged by 20 US States Against Trump Administration
Twenty US state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its sharp increase in H‑1B visa fees, a program that allows skilled foreign workers to work in the United States.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Massachusetts Attorney General Jay Campbell lead the lawsuit. They are joined by attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In the complaint, Rob Bonta said the Trump administration raised H‑1B visa fees to $100,000, calling the hike unnecessary, unreasonable, and illegal. He warned that the move pressures applicants while creating labor shortages in the US market.
The H‑1B program allows US companies to temporarily hire skilled foreign workers, primarily in science, technology, engineering, and business fields. Since 2004, the program has admitted around 85,000 foreign workers annually. Major beneficiaries include companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google.
Previously, companies paid $1,500 annually per visa. In September, the fee was increased to $100,000 by the Trump administration. The hike has also negatively impacted the US education and healthcare sectors, which rely heavily on skilled foreign workers. A recent survey reports that 74 percent of US schools face teacher shortages in special education, physical science, bilingual education, and foreign language departments.
California’s complaint emphasizes the state’s reliance on skilled international talent, noting its importance for economic growth as the fourth-largest economy in the world.
