US EditionDemocratic states sue Trump administration over new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general argue the $100,000 fee unlawfully exceeds authority and worsens shortages in health care, education, and research sectors.
- On December 12, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell led a coalition of 20 states suing in Massachusetts federal court to block the new $100,000 H-1B fee.
- Implemented by the Department of Homeland Security through written documents, the policy imposes a $100,000 surcharge on H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, bypassing required Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking.
- Employers typically pay between $960 and $7,595 in regulatory and statutory fees, with nearly 30,000 educators and nearly 17,000 health‑sector H-1B holders relying on the program.
- Hospitals, schools and universities could face staffing shortfalls, with the lawsuit warning the $100,000 fee burdens state and private employers, blocking hires and worsening vacancies.
- This states' complaint is at least the third legal challenge, with separate lawsuits by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a judge set to hold a hearing next week.
77 Articles
77 Articles
20 US states challenge Trump administration's $100,000 visa fee, calls it 'unnecessary financial burden'
Twenty US states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over a $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B visa petitions. The states argue that the policy is unlawful and threatens essential public services, including education and healthcare. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office is leading the lawsuit, said the administration lacked authority to impose such a high fee. “President Trump’s illegal $100,000 H-1B visa fee create…
No President can ignore Constitution: 20 US states sue Trump over H-1B visa fee
California and 19 other US states are challenging President Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, highlighting concerns over its impact on skilled foreign workers and essential services. The legal battle questions the presidential authority to impose such a surcharge, amid fears of worsening labour shortages.
'Skilled Talent Drives Us Forward': US States Sue Trump Over H-1B Visa Fee
Twenty US states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, arguing the policy is unlawful and threatens essential public...
The California Attorney General argues that the amount of the visa "constitutes a violation of the law and exceeds limits authorized by Congress"
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