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A new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications in the U.S. will take effect on Sept. 21, the White House announced, but it will apply only per petition and not to current visa holders re-entering the country.

“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on X. She emphasized that existing H-1B visa holders outside the U.S. will not have to pay to return, and the fee will only affect applicants in the next lottery round.

The executive order, signed by President Donald Trump on Sept. 19, aims to protect American workers, who the administration says are being replaced by lower-paid foreign labor. The White House fact sheet notes that H-1B holders in IT have risen from 32% in FY 2003 to over 65% today. Exceptions may be granted “if in the national interest.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick initially suggested the fee might be annual, prompting concern from major companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and JPMorgan. Internal memos urged employees with H-1B visas to avoid international travel, with some returning to the U.S. quickly to avoid being caught abroad under the new rule.

The policy also directs the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to issue guidance on enforcement, audits, and penalties, and requires revising prevailing wage levels to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid H-1B workers.