The H-1B Visa: Latest Updates, Key Developments and FAQs
The H-1B visa has historically been an essential route for business school students looking to stay and work in the US after graduation—so it’s understandable that the newly introduced $100,000 fee has prompted confusion and concern.
In recent years, the majority of H-1B visa recipients have been from India. In the fiscal year 2024, Indian nationals received more than 280,000 H-1B visa approvals, accounting for 71% of all approved petitions that year.
So, what do international students need to know about the H-1B visa?
Here’s all the latest information about the recent H-1B visa changes, who is affected, and what the new plans mean for international students looking to work in the US when they graduate.
What is the H-1B visa?
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant permit, which allows highly skilled professionals to live and work in the US on a temporary basis. H-1B visa holders can currently stay in the US for up to three years, after which they can apply to extend their stay for another three years—a total of six years.
Who is eligible for the H-1B visa?
If you’re looking to obtain an H-1B visa, your employer must sponsor you and send a petition to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf.
To meet the requirements for the H-1B visa, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree and be working in aspecialized profession, such as a business or management role.
H-1B visas are allocated through a lottery system, with a cap of 65,000 visas set in 2025. An extra 20,000 visas were available for those with a US master’s degree or higher, taking the total to 85,000.
What are the recent changes to the H-1B visa in 2025?
A proclamation by the US government in September 2025 introduced a new $100,000 employer sponsorship fee for the H-1B visa, increasing from the previous cost of $780.
When will the new H-1B fee come into effect?
The new $100,000 employer sponsorship fee for the H-1B visa will come into effect starting in the next lottery cycle, in February 2026.
Who will the recent changes to the H-1B visa affect?
The new $100,000 fee only applies to new H-1B visa petitions filed outside the US on or after September 21st, 2025.
Are current H-1B holders or those with approved petitions exempt from the new fee?
Current H-1B visa holders and petitions submitted before September 21, 2025, are exempt from the new fee—the $100,000 cost only affects new petitions submitted on or after September 21, 2025.
Does the new fee impact students who are already in the US on an F-1 visa planning to transition to H-1B?
Business school students, and other students, currently studying in the US on an F-1 visa are exempt from the new fee, as confirmed by the USCIS in October 2025. The fee does not apply to an extension, amendment, or change of visa status—only new H-1B visa petitions are subject to the change.
How does this fee affect job prospects and visa sponsorship for international students who want to work in the US after graduation?
For those already studying in the US on an F-1 visa, the newly increased application fee does not apply, therefore job prospects should not be significantly impacted by these changes.
For students studying elsewhere but hoping to work in the US after graduating, job prospects may be affected. Employers must carefully evaluate whether sponsoring an H-1B visa is financially feasible, but it remains to be seen how the $100,000 employer sponsorship fee will play out in international hiring for US-based companies.
What industries are affected by the new H-1B visa fee?
The technology sector is one of the industries most impacted by the H-1B changes, as the primary user of the visa program. Tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft are among the top employers of H-1B visa holders, and in 2024, Amazon sponsored over 7,000 visas.
Scientific research, healthcare, and staffing firms are also highly impacted by the new fee. While large corporations may continue to sponsor highly valued workers, it is likely smaller companies and startups will sponsor fewer H-1B visas as a result of the fee increase.
How are other countries responding to the H-1B fee increase and what are some alternative study destinations?
Amid the new plans to increase the application fee for the H-1B visa, other countries have been working towards promoting their own visa schemes and attracting global talent.
The UK government announced its plans to explore reviewing visa fees for some global talent, in order to attract top-level professionals and drive economic growth.
China’s newly introduced K visa also plans to attract international talent, targeting STEM professionals from across the world. Unlike traditional visas, including the H-1B scheme, the K visa does not require employer sponsorship.
Other countries, including Canada, South Korea, and Germany, have also been vocal in their commitment to welcoming international talent, with many taking steps to adapt their own visa policies and attract professionals from across the globe.
What is the latest H-1B visa news?
October 20—USCIS confirmed that the new fee would not apply to a “change of status”, meaning those transitioning from an F-1 visa in the US are exempt. The guidance stated that those seeking an extension, amendment, or status change would not be subject to the fee. USCIS also confirmed that the changes do not affect current H-1B visa holders from traveling both within the US and abroad.
September 21—The proclamation took effect, meaning that any new H-1B visa petitions from this date will be subject to the new fee for employer sponsorship.
September 20—The White House confirmed the new $100,000 fee is a one-off payment and only applies to new H-1B visa applications.
September 19—The US government announced a proclamation introducing a new application fee for H-1B visas, increasing the cost of employer sponsorship from $780 to $100,000.