Washington: In a significant ruling that could benefit thousands of Indian professionals and major technology companies, a US federal judge has struck down former President Donald Trump’s controversial $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, declaring it unlawful and beyond presidential authority. The decision is being viewed as a major setback for one of the Trump administration’s most aggressive immigration measures.
The fee was announced in September 2025 as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration policies and reduce reliance on foreign workers. The measure dramatically increased the cost of sponsoring highly skilled foreign employees, raising employer expenses from the existing range of approximately $2,000–$5,000 to an unprecedented $100,000 per application. that the administration’s justification under immigration law was insufficient to support such a significant financial burden on employers. B program to work in America. highly skilled workers needed for innovation and growth. education and technology. meaning the issue could continue through higher courts in the coming months. also reinforces judicial limits on executive authority in matters involving taxation and immigration policy. sector.
