US court blocks Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee policy

WASHINGTON – A US federal judge has struck down former President Donald Trump’s policy imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, ruling that the measure was unlawful and exceeded executive authority. US Federal District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that the administration acted beyond its constitutional limits by introducing the fee without approval from Congress. In a detailed 42-page judgment, the court observed that the $100,000 charge effectively amounted to a tax, regardless of how it was described, and held that the executive branch does not have the authority to impose such a levy on H-1B visa applications. The decision came after a legal challenge filed by 20 US states, including California, which argued that the policy was unconstitutional and would have far-reaching implications for businesses and foreign skilled workers. Reacting to the verdict, the Department of Homeland Security described the ruling as an example of judicial activism. The H-1B visa programme, introduced by the US Congress in 1990, allows American companies to employ highly skilled foreign professionals in specialised fields on a temporary basis for up to six years. Congress has set an annual cap of 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding advanced degrees. Prior to the proposed change, sponsoring employers typically paid fees ranging between $1,700 and $4,500 per application. The Trump administration had increased this amount to $100,000, a move that sparked widespread legal and political controversy. How Pakistanis are Set to Benefit from New US H-1B Visa Rules?