H-1B Visa Fee Raised to $100,000 Per Person
"Visa Fee Bombshell Could Make the U.S. More Closed Off"
The United States has announced a sharp increase in the fee for the H-1B "specialty occupation visa" to $100,000 per person (approximately 140 million KRW), causing significant repercussions both domestically and internationally.
The Trump administration announced that the H-1B visa application fee will be increased to $100,000. Photo by Getty Images
On September 22, Assemblyman Kim Junhyung of the Innovation Party for the Homeland stated on MBC Radio's "Kim Jongbae's Focus" that "this is a policy aimed at admitting only highly skilled workers who meet the preferences of the United States." He pointed out, "A significant portion of those entering through the H-1B visa are Indian nationals, so this will place a tremendous burden on companies that rely on foreign skilled workers." He added, "While companies that need Indian talent may be dissatisfied, this could be welcome news for American engineers. However, such measures could make the United States more closed off, and in the long run, this is by no means a good thing."
He also addressed the shifting stance of the U.S. administration regarding the visa fee issue, saying, "Even after President Trump signs it, the position could change, so it's unclear which stance is correct." He continued, "When considering how we should respond, we need to push for an exemption from the fee at the time of visa issuance." Assemblyman Kim also commented on the government's efforts to establish a new visa (E-4) quota for Korean professionals, saying, "It's an attempt to create a separate category for economic agreement visas," and added, "Since the category is entirely different from the H-1B visa, it ultimately comes down to negotiations."
Cho Hanbum, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, also appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyunjung's News Show" and said, "The reason the United States has prospered is because it has been a country where the world's top talent has gathered." He added, "Talented individuals from our country and elsewhere have gone to study abroad. Most of those who currently receive H-1B visas end up at top U.S. companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. Now, they are saying these people will no longer be able to come."
He continued, "Those talented individuals will either go to other countries or stay in their home countries, and some may even go to China. If that happens, the competitiveness of the United States will completely decline." He criticized, "The situation is extremely chaotic right now. During Trump's first term, there were people who could keep President Trump in check, but now there are only yes-men around him."
The H-1B visa is a specialty occupation visa for professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The number of annual issuances is limited to 85,000 through a lottery system. The visa allows an initial stay of three years, with the possibility of extension, and holders can also apply for permanent residency.
On September 19 (local time), the Trump administration announced that the H-1B visa application fee would be raised to $100,000. When U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the $100,000 fee was on an "annual" basis, it was understood that companies would have to pay $100,000 each year to renew the visa, causing major confusion among businesses.
As confusion continued over the new H-1B visa fee policy, on the following day, September 20, White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the new policy would apply only to new visa applicants, as the Trump administration belatedly tried to address the situation.
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