The new H-1B bill that imposes a $100,000 fee per worker for H-1B visa petitions filed for employees outside the U.S. will take effect starting September 21, 2025. This restriction will last for 12 months, unless extended. The fee and related changes are part of a presidential proclamation signed by Donald Trump aimed at curbing alleged abuses of the H-1B program. Additionally, a bill called the American Tech Workforce Act was introduced on September 17, 2025, proposing to raise the H-1B wage floor to $150,000, abolish the OPT program, and replace the visa lottery with a highest-bidder system. This bill is currently in the early stages and will proceed to committee review, so it has not yet been passed into law. In summary:
- A new $100,000 fee rule is in effect from September 21, 2025, for 12 months.
- A separate bill with broader H-1B reforms was introduced on September 17, 2025, but has not yet been passed.
These are the most recent legislative and executive actions affecting the H-1B visa program as of September 2025.
