USCIS Issues New H-1B Guidance and Provides Payment Portal
Published November 03, 2025
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy
Higher Education
OME Advocate
- On October 20, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated guidance on the new $100,000 H-1B visa application fees, clarifying that it applies to new H-1B petitions filed at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Sept. 21, 2025 for applicants who don’t already have an H-1B visa and are outside the country.
- Current visa holders can freely travel in and out of the country, and the fee doesn’t apply to visas issued or applications submitted before the September date.
- The Department may waive the fee only in “extraordinarily rare” cases when employing the H-1B worker serves the national interest and no qualified U.S. workers are available. The fee must be paid before filing, with proof of payment or exemption included in the petition.
- AACOM is urging a fee exemption for healthcare workers and higher education institutions.
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