The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued guidance on new restrictions on H-1B visas issued in a presidential proclamation on September 19.
The new guidance explains that for the requirement of a $100,000 payment to apply for such a visa:
The Proclamation does not apply to any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025. In addition, the Proclamation does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa, or any alien beneficiary following petition approval, from traveling in and out of the United States.
The Proclamation also does not apply to a petition filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, that is requesting an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay for an alien inside the United States where the alien is granted such amendment, change, or extension. Further, an alien beneficiary of such petition will not be considered to be subject to the payment if he or she subsequently departs the United States and applies for a visa based on the approved petition and/or seeks to reenter the United States on a current H-1B visa.
H-1B visas apply to “specialty occupations,” typically those that require a considerable amount of training. Many health care organizations employ physicians and other health care professionals through H-1B visas.
Learn more from this U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services guidance and the Newsweek article “New H-1B Fee Change: Trump Admin Reveals How to Pay and Who’s Exempt.”