US EditionDemocratic states sue Trump administration over new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general argue the $100,000 fee unlawfully exceeds authority and worsens shortages in health care, education, and research sectors.
- On December 12, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell led a coalition of 20 states suing in Massachusetts federal court to block the new $100,000 H-1B fee.
- Implemented by the Department of Homeland Security through written documents, the policy imposes a $100,000 surcharge on H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, bypassing required Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking.
- Employers typically pay between $960 and $7,595 in regulatory and statutory fees, with nearly 30,000 educators and nearly 17,000 health‑sector H-1B holders relying on the program.
- Hospitals, schools and universities could face staffing shortfalls, with the lawsuit warning the $100,000 fee burdens state and private employers, blocking hires and worsening vacancies.
- This states' complaint is at least the third legal challenge, with separate lawsuits by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a judge set to hold a hearing next week.
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20 States Sue Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
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'Almost every decision of Trump has been challenged': Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev on H-1B visa fee increase
US President Donald Trump's policies are facing significant opposition. Twenty states are challenging the H-1B visa fee hike while US lawmakers have introduced a resolution to end tariffs on Indian imports. These actions highlight concerns over the impact on businesses and bilateral ties.
Maryland joins lawsuit against Trump administration over H-1B visa fees
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown joined a coalition of 19 states in suing the Trump administration over what they say is an unlawful policy regarding H-1B visas. Brown said the new fee would create a costly barrier for employers, especially in the public sector. He said the policy is a clear violation of the law because it imposes a massive fee outside of the bounds of what is authorized by Congress. In September, President Donald Trump i…
Hawaii joins lawsuit against Trump’s $100K H-1B visa fee | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
The attorneys general of 20 states, including Hawaii and California,sued the Trump administration Friday over its decision to impose a $100,000 fee on visas for skilled foreign workers.
Democratic-led states sue Trump administration over $100K H-1B visa fee
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield (D) on Friday led a group of 18 Democratic states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa application fee. Collectively, the attorneys general argued that the new price tag attached to foreign visas will pose a barrier to U.S. employers seeking to hire…
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